El Donaldo's Christmas gift buying guide for the cash strapped

Are you not getting your annual Christmas bonus this year due to cutbacks your company made? (Unless you are upper management that is...you will no doubt still get yours. So if that is the case, click on the 'next blog' link above. This post is not for you.)

Have you and your family decided that the amount spent on presents is going to be considerably lower this year?

Are you currently out of work, but still want to give your kids the best Christmas ever?

Well my friends, if you meet any or all of the criteria above, I have some good news! Just because you don't want to dish out your hard earned dough for the gifts that your children put on their wish list, there are a few things that even though your kids didn't list them, they will end up enjoying a whole lot more!

So without further ado, El Donaldo's Blogo brings you his

2008 CHRISTMAS GIFT BUYING GUIDE FOR THE CASH STRAPPED!

First on our list of gifts that cost next to nothing has been a kid favorite since its inception in the year 1874. What has been holding children's fancy for over 134 years??

The Cardboard Box

To an adult, a cardboard box might only be something that you use to mail things in, or yet another thing you have to try to dispose of when you buy a new appliance. But to a child, it is like a case of ice cream sandwiches that has fallen off the ice cream truck in the middle of July.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to things that you can make out of a cardboard box. Just a few options are:

Mini Pool Table

Once just reserved for Taverns and your Great Uncle's garage, you can now have your very own pool table! Great for children of many ages.

Rocket Ship

What kid would not want his very own rocket ship? Now really, if given the choice between a Polly Pocket or Transformer or cardboard rocket ship, show me the child who wouldn't pick option #3.

Racing Car

One of the premiere uses for a cardboard box is to make a car. As you can see above, it is easily decorated with that electrical cord that doesn't word anymore, and a leftover paper plate that wasn't used at Thanksgiving time.

What is that you say? Your child can't think up fun ideas on their own because the Nintendo has replaced the part of their brain that thinks creative thoughts? And how a cardboard box won't cut it for them because they won't know what to do with it? In that case, there is yet another thing you can do with a cardboard box!

Put it over your head

Not only will your child be able to walk out in that bright bright sunshine that he has grown accustomed to hiding from indoors, but his friends won't be able to see that he is actually outside playing instead of being a shut in.

Next on our list of cheap presents is something that you don't even have to go to the store for. You can find all of the materials in your own back yard.

Mud Pies

By the time that cardboard box starts to wear out it should be around mid May. Which is where the mud pie fits in perfectly. The weather is warmer, and if your children are anything like mine, they are itching to get outside and play. (Unless your kid is Nintendo boy. His box should still be in tip top condition.)

Whether you have infants

Or older children

Mud pies are a timeless classic. The best part is you already have the materials at home!

Coming in as the third item on our list this year is yet another item that you can get from your property. Unless that is you don't have a tree, then you might need to break a few off your neighbor's tree.

Sticks

A stick is just about as handy as a cardboard box. You can play swords with a good stick. You can mix up your mud pie with a stick. You can cook hot dogs over a campfire with a stick. You can even use a stick to poke at a hornet's nest with. While sticks probably wouldn't be good gifts for infants, I would say any child over 3 would love to see a bundle of sticks under the Christmas tree.

The best gift on our list has been saved for last. Now keep in mind that out of all the gifts listed, this one will cost the most money. But mark my words, more things can be done with this gift than any of the other ones listed above. Heck, even Nintendo boy can use it to prop up his game system so it doesn't over heat.

Duct Tape

This is the mother of all gifts! Do you realize all that can be done with duct tape??? Not only that, but this also would suffice as a gift for your husband. Go ahead, give him 2-3 rolls of duct tape instead of a new tie. You will be all he talks about to his friends for weeks on end. Even teens love duct tape! In case you can't see the picture I am painting, here are some uses for duct tape.

Makes a fine babysitter

Car needs new paint? Not if you have some duct tape!

Works great as a girdle...

...As well as a wallet...

...Or even a Formal Dress!!

If the above photos do not convince you that duct tape is a prime gift this holiday season, then maybe this one will. Duct tape can also be used to hide unsightly images out in public!


So there you have it. Several ideas for those of you looking to cut back this year. I hope you all enjoyed my gift buying guide this year. From all of us here at El Donaldo Blogo, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!