by j - Frugal Mom - r.
Member since:
March 28, 2007

Teacher's Gifts

November 12, 2008 11:53 AM EST (Updated: November 12, 2008 11:54 AM EST)
views: 388 | rating: 10/10 (23 votes) | comments: 36
Are your children giving their teachers gifts this year?

My son has been very lucky with his kindergarten teacher, and he is already talking about her Christmas gift.

I just ordered a 10 dollar Borders gift card for her through mypoints. We already started her gift bag and this was all we were missing.

I had a lot of gifts that I had gotten free or on great deals that my son could chose between and he chose a small bottle of body shower and body lotion from Bath & Body works (bought with coupons and a Netwinner gift card last spring), and he also chose a very nice glass candle holder with two candles that I had gotten at CVS on clearance with a coupon for about 75 cents this summer.

My out of pocket cost was 75 cents for the candle holder and candles and 20 cents for the gift bag (also bought on clearance). If I add the real price of everything, it would have a value for about 25 dollars.

Now, all my son is missing is a great Chrismast card that he can make for her.

Does your children give their teachers Christmas presents? How much do you spend, and what do you usually give?
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Comments: 36

Rose H. Nov 12, 2008, 11:57am EST
That is fantastic - you are the best bargain hunter ever. I'm sure the teacher will appreciate your son's thoughtfullness and the great gifts, along with a terrific home made card.
Mariana T. Nov 12, 2008, 11:57am EST
J, I think it's so wonderful that you are teaching your kid the value of giving a beautiful but affordable gift - I know that the card will be wonderful as well. Salud
Vivian P. Nov 12, 2008, 12:00pm EST
how sweet
My sons are all grown but I think the grand kids give their teachers gifts
Jaye S. Nov 12, 2008, 12:09pm EST
My children don't usually give gifts, but I want my son to give his teacher a gift this year. She is a wonderful teacher and I don't think he could have gotten a better teacher. We will make her a gift basket using stuff we have accumulated from Walgreens, CVS and K-Mart during super doubles.

He also has a wonderful bus driver and we will probably make her one too. It's such a great idea and they really deserve it.
Amanda C. Nov 12, 2008, 12:15pm EST
Maddie isn't in school yet, so I don't have to worry about it right now, but my mother used to get gifts for us to give to the teachers.

I think it was usually just a cheap Christmas mug with maybe a small coffee or hot chocolate mix in it and some little chocolates, or just a bunch of mini candy canes.
Nothing too expensive.

I think she also sometimes would buy stuff after the holidays like nice little decorations, for like 70-80% off (so really cheap) then the next year we could give those to the teacher. Like candle holders and stuff like that...
Monica H. Nov 12, 2008, 12:17pm EST
We do usually give our daycare/teacher a gift at Christmas. She watches our children 3 days a week as is like family to us. Last year we gave her a $25 gift card to one of her favorite stores. I am thinking we gave her a scented candle also.
I haven't gotten started on this year yet. Thanks for the reminder though.
@**Phyllis**@ @ Mom of 2 boys@ Nov 12, 2008, 12:27pm EST
My kids do give gifts to their teachers. Spencer my teenager likes to give the teachers he likes a gift card to Dunkin Donuts or their favorite candy in a coffee mug.
Justin my 6 year old last year gave his teacher a personalized ornament for X-mas.
Nora Davenport Nov 12, 2008, 12:28pm EST
Wow, that's great that you got some terrific gifts using gift cards......isn't that fun, though?!!!! Awesome deals! My son is out of school and in college, but we always had something nice for his teachers....one year I painted a clay pot and got some "schoolish" rub on transfers so put them all around and then decoupaged it...painted the pot red and put white/red stuffing inside, with all sorts of neat "teacher" stuff....pencils, pens, erasers, Post-a-notes, and, I think even a gift card........he loved it soooo much! Still has it to this day, and that's been about 7 or 8 years ago! I really miss that, though!
Quirky Jessi Nov 12, 2008, 12:36pm EST
That's really awesome.
Candy S. Nov 12, 2008, 12:54pm EST
What a great idea. Wow I am always looking for good ideas for teachers.
Jane C. Nov 12, 2008, 1:25pm EST
I don't know if my grandchildren do this or not, I'll have to ask Danielle.
Kathy D. Nov 12, 2008, 1:41pm EST
Good for you on finding such good deals
elizabeth e. Nov 12, 2008, 1:56pm EST
j~

tHESE ARE fine GIFTS...AS A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER i WOULD LOVE TO RECEIVE A bORDERS CARD....AND WOW....SOMETHING FOR THE bODY! lUCKY, LUCKY KINDERGARTEN TEACHER.
Sarah (I want points) Nov 12, 2008, 2:05pm EST
I've enjoyed doing my things online this year, because I've been able to get gifts for people that I woudn't have otherwise...
We did when my daughter was little and only had 1 teacher, but now she is in middle school & too many teachers!
Sandra H. Nov 12, 2008, 3:27pm EST
I do my nephew's gifts for their teachers and I do baskets of homemade cookies, breads, fudge and hard tack candy.....a lot of teachers don't have time to bake for the holidays and they always seem to appreciate this.
J W. Nov 12, 2008, 3:52pm EST
My daughter is in high school and we don't do teacher gifts anymore
Sandy (back in Ohio...blah!) Nov 12, 2008, 4:06pm EST
It really depends if we can afford to get the teachers something or not. This year will be rough. As of right now hubby and I aren't exchanging anything. No in laws this year either. As we are still not on talking terms. So, that will help save a little money. I was thinking about my kids doinga craft and giving the finish product to their tacher.
Carla B. Nov 12, 2008, 4:20pm EST
Elliott doesn't have a teacher or babysitter or anyone like that, but when he gets older and does, we will probably give them presents.
Mimi~cannot please everyone~ G. Nov 12, 2008, 4:56pm EST
That is such a great idea. At the school my children attend no one is allowed to give the teacher or any school staff a gift that exceeds $10.
Katrina Hall Nov 12, 2008, 7:07pm EST
You are amazing - and what a nice Christmas present for the teacher! Good going, j r!
j - Frugal Mom - r. Nov 12, 2008, 7:42pm EST
Thank you Gather friends. It really pays off to be frugal once in a while. I make a list in January with people, who needs Christmas and Birthday presents during the upcoming year, with ideas for that person. If I find something fit for a specific person at a great deal I will get it and put it in a big box ready for the occasion. I will then write it on the list, so I don't lose track. A few items like the bath and body works bargain and the candle holders I keep for occasions just like this.

I am already working on next years list as my dad is coming in the Spring, and he can bring back presents and save me about 100 dollars in shipping.



Bob, I'm so glad you stopped by and approved, I hoped you would come and give a kindergarten teacher's approval.
Bridget ♥ Nov 12, 2008, 7:43pm EST
Good for you
Karen M. Nov 12, 2008, 7:47pm EST
I am a teacher and the thoughts are always appreciated !!
Judith Warner Nov 13, 2008, 8:07am EST
As a teacher for 30+ years, I have a suggestion for a free, very much appreciated gift. Write a letter detailing the great year your child is having, and why you appreciate the teacher's efforts, send to the teacher, and a copy the principal, and even the Superintendant. Teachers rarely get written feedback from parents that's positive, and it means more than any material gift. Cybergranny 99
j - Frugal Mom - r. Nov 13, 2008, 9:01am EST
Thank you for the great suggestion Judith. We might just do that.
Rachel S. Nov 13, 2008, 9:33am EST
If you have Office 2007, use the Publisher section and go to the Greeting Cards option...there are hundreds of different options that can be personalized for text and theme colors...you can even insert your own photos into them. They make great, almost free, additions to any gift or to use to deliver a gift card.
Jenny D. Nov 13, 2008, 7:40pm EST
Thanks for sharing!
Dagmara H. Nov 13, 2008, 10:35pm EST
awww, that is really cool
Heather C. Nov 13, 2008, 10:41pm EST
j, I started something when my son was in kindergarten that all of the teachers for both the kids expected from then on. Even now when we see them, they will always say they still have their present. It was cheap, fun, the kids did most and the teachers loved it. One year I had bought a green christmas wreath after christmas for $1.50 at Big Lots. I took the wreath and bought red/white peppermint and green/white wintergreen candies, bought red and green yarn. We tied each piece of candy on the wreath with opposite color of yarn and put as many as we could all over the wreath tieing them on to the sprigs. They came out really neat. The whole thing cost about $3.00.
sarah g. Nov 13, 2008, 10:44pm EST
yes, I do get the teachers something. It varies from year to year and I usually spend $15-$20 on them. My daughter has a primary teacher, but I also buy for her one on one aide.
Tory H. Nov 13, 2008, 10:55pm EST
I remember giving gifts to teachers, too.

Now, with college, I doubt I'll be doing that ;) Though I'll be getting my riding instructor something, as she's as much a friend as she is a trainer. Likely, I'll paint or make her something crafty.
donna c. Nov 14, 2008, 5:43pm EST
Yeap. My son has given his "teachers" gifts since he was born :0) One year it was homemade winter soaps. Once it was the dry mix for one of those cookies in a jar (we have a book of recipes). But I have to say HIS favorite is a movie box. We get one of those microwave tubs of popcorn from BlockBuster for a couple bucks, a five dollar gift card from BlockBuster, several $1 movie candies from the dollar tree (total cost about $15).
Cecilia Lyne Nov 19, 2008, 9:30pm EST
Just depends ~ Joslyne gave her perschool teacher some small bath and body works items in a tin that we got from the dollar store last year. The total was like $8 but we had to buy $3.

This year we are give her teachers $10 gift cards to a book store in a tin or box or something. There are only two teachers this year.

I plan to give Jacobs daycare lady a $25 gift card.
Trish A. Dec 1, 2008, 11:17am EST
Some great ideas. j. Frugal Mom you are so impressive. Have you cosidered having a daily blog?

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