Thrifty and Thriving

Offer is good through November 30. Find out what’s available.

Purchases must be of $30 or more. Use code 94476 at checkout through December 16. If you have a little person on your list who has a Build-A-Bear doll, this might give you a chance to surprise them with a new outfit or accessories, if accessories for a teddy bear sounds like a normal concept to you.

The whole store seemed like a weird idea to me at one time, but then I actually took my kids there and saw how much fun they had. The dolls they created are still among their favorite toys, and the best part is, they’re washable, which is really reassuring when you see just what a favorite stuffed animal goes through.

Are there toys and gifts for kids out there that you think are a good buy?

According to Ryan Sager from Smart Money, it may not be. While new legislation protects consumers by restricting expiration dates sooner than five years after purchase and fees when a card is dormant fewer than 12 months, he still writes that the money spent on gift cards could be a waste. Why? Because we lose them, put off using them, and forget them. Removing expiration dates will only make the problem worse, because we won’t have the motivation to use them at all. Read more.

I can see the point here, but I’m not entirely sure if I agree. I think it depends on the gift card. I know Best Buy and Borders gift cards don’t last very long in our house at all. But with restaurant gift cards, it’s a little harder to find time to go out. Do you like receiving gift cards? Have you ever let them go to waste?

Retailers are trying something new to make up for slumping sales. In an insert in yesterday’s paper, I noticed Toys R’ Us is having a Christmas in July sale all this week. If your kid is into Hannah Montana, the Hannah Montana Malibu Beach House, with doll included (how often does that happen?) is $79.99. The same doll house is listed on Amazon for $159.99. Thomas the Train wooden toys are buy 2, get a 3rd for free. Kawasaki and Barbie Power Wheels, normally $99, are now $59.99. These prices are good until July 25.

Why the good sales? According to Reuters, retailers are banking that this will give the summer season a well-needed boost. Some are even going so far as to bring out candy canes to get into the spirit.

In some ways, it makes sense to start thinking about the holidays, especially with good sales going on. On the other hand, it would really bother me to buy toys and other things for my kids and leave them sitting in the closet for months. It seems like kind of a waste, especially since kids outgrow toys so fast. They may not even be interested anymore by the time they get it. How do you feel about Christmas shopping in the summer?