Between my two youngest they attended 3 different b-day parties for friends/classmates. I'm never sure how much to spend, I used to stockpile sale gifts, but now that they are getting older it seems harder. I've resorted to gift cards lately, I wander the aisles and can't seem to find anything that seems right. Maybe I'm just getting jaded...
At my 9yr olds party last December gifts varied from a $25 gift card (this was from his best friend, but still seems like alot!) down to a toy from Dollar Tree that broke right out of the package. My ds attended parties for both of those boys since then and we reciprocated the $25 gc and I spent $15 on a gc for the kid that spent $1 on him.... (the boy had an $18 a head pizza/gaming party so I felt obligated)
I bought $10 gc's for all the parties this weekend, but I felt a nagging pressure to do more. I usually add some chocolate coins or something but I was just to busy this weekend.
Do you have a plan for these things? (or a surefire idea for 7-10 yr old boy gifts)

I do a $10 bill in a card usually. If I happen to find some great-deal toy that I got on sale, then we'll do that. But I know my kids get the biggest buzz out of money and it's the easiest thing to do. And $10 seems to be standard around here, at our elementary school anyway.

Kerri

I try to stick to $10-15 range. At our locally owned toy store, I can usually find something in that range (game/puzzle/science kit/craft kit/etc.). Our last few birthday gifts that we gave in that price range were (all for 7-8 year old boys): a $10 gift card and a few packs of baseball cards, a set of "stomp rockets", a cool sports themed wallet, and a Webkinz.

I stick to $10 to $20 range. Also, when I see / hear something on sale - I buy ahead.

For example last year I shopped at a Disney clearance and got lots of things that I knew would be gifts.

Also, when I go to the China Town here locally I buy several interesting things to keep for Birthday gifts.

Thirdly, if I have nothing prepared, I buy a craft of some sort, which usually is within $15 range

generally around $10-15 here too, but I've got a fairly good gift closet at the moment too..

I usually spend in the $10-$15 range.

we spend $5 for the age range ds is currently in (parties have been for 1-3 years), and i have given some really great gifts i felt totally confident about giving.

i imagine i would be shooting for something closer to $10 for the age range you mention.

We aim for $10, and usually end up spending that plus or minus a couple of bucks.

I try to stay in the $10 ballpark, more for close family friends. If there is something that I know they are into, I will package a little goodie with it: ie webkinz cards with the gift--stick a gift label sticker on the outer packing in lieu of a card.

I stay around a 15.00 value, but usually spend much less on it . I picked up 3 of these of Target 75 off clearance Shake 'n Go Flyers: Fighter Plane - Fisher-Price - Toys "R" Us (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2466342)
http://trus.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-3179190reg.jpg

Also got several smartlab kits
SmartLab Toys (http://www.smartlabtoys.com/)

A couple imaginext dinos--
Fisher-Price(r) - Imaginext Dinosaurs (http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2726&e=dinolanding)

2 little pots and pans metal sets

Crayola Model Magic Fusion Ariel's castle-- http://www.crayolastore.com/product_detail.asp?T1=CRA+23%2D3022
and the Black Pearl ship--
http://www.crayolastore.com/product_detail.asp?T1=CRA+23%2D3023

And a couple of other things. I also got Dss bday gift (and he is goign to flip LOL) Its a HUGE 100 buck quarry mine thomas the train set that I got for 75 off :D

Shopping Target after Cmas clearance (and Amazon also has clearance before Christmas-- like RIGHT before) REALLy helps to stretch the budget when it comes to gifts. They also had a lot of bigger kid stuff, but I tried to buy for appropriate ages. The shake and go planes have been a HUGE hit with 6-7 yr olds :)

I sometimes don't give gifts. I know I seem like I am being mean, but who really needs more stuff? Sometimes I give the kids a sleep-over-in-a-card at my house... or I have the kids give them a potted plant (a cool one of course! Like a spider plant baby, or a pot with a beautiful flower in it... something like that.) Last Christmas a friend and I bought our girls "Only Hearts Club" dolls and in our house, they replaced Barbie completely. So I have been buying one doll for the rest of our friends girls so Cyan can play with their girls with them. (Do I sound COMPLETELY self centered yet?)

Anyway, there have been a few times where I have just given money in a card. And more often I just don't give anything but a card with a note/picture/photo in it of my kid. I think that 'stuff' is so amazingly overrated at this point in our country that I am trying real hard to step out of that obligitory gift giving unless I find something I really agree with (like the plants or the age apt doll figures)...

Anyway... it depends on where we are going and who the kid is mostly.

That doesn't help at all does it? :lol:

Val

$10 is what I usually spend, either a gift card or a toy if I have one. I like gift cards to the bookstore because I know they'll get used and I'm not cluttering up someone's life with a toy. But we're talking age 8 and up kids.

We stay in the $10 range. I've found that if we have the time, my kids LOVE picking out a gift for their friends. My 6yo DD especially enjoys walking around the store, trying to get the most for her money.