6 Affordable Holiday Gifts Your Teenage Grandkids Will Actually Adore
Written by
Laura Bogart
Edited by
Kristen Mae
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You may be a grandparent, but you’re still cool. You’re with it. As you select the right gifts for your teenage grandkids this season, you want them to know exactly how funky you are. In the past, you could ask the nice young person behind the counter about what the kids liked these days — but as you shop online, you don’t have that option anymore. Add in the fact that you’re shopping on a fixed income, and things get trickier.
Where do you go to find gifts that aren’t “cheugy,” as the kids might say — or might have said at some point recently? Relax. GOBankingRates has you covered. We put together a list of affordable holiday gifts that even the most cynical teenage grandkids will love. No cap (or “truthfully”), daddio.
1. NeeDoh Nice Cube
- Price: $5.97 at Walmart
Fidget toys are all the rage these days — and no wonder, with all the stressors young people face. You can show your grandkids that you get it by gifting them this compact fidget toy designed to fit perfectly in their hands. The NeeDoh Nice Cube has a sleek, ice-like appearance, but it’s far from cold to the touch. A slow squish feels soothingly soft; squishing it faster makes it firm. This fidget toy is also surprisingly versatile: Kids can squeeze and stretch it to help with calm and focus.
2. KOOKIN Lighted Vanity Makeup Mirror
- Price: $20.99 from Amazon
Whether they’re performing a get-ready-with-me for TikTok or preparing for a family event, the teens in your life will love having a lighted vanity mirror. With natural LED lights, they’ll get a clear view to help them do their makeup or daily skin care. Best of all, the lights are dimmable, and they can hold the touchscreen sensor to adjust the brightness. With a brightness memory function, they won’t have to change the setting every time — which is, like, ugh, so annoying.
3. Coup Role-Playing Card Game
- Price: $17.15 at Walmart
If there’s one thing teens are into, it’s dystopian universes. Through this role-playing card game called Coup, you can bring drama and rebellion to the dining room table. The game is set in a world full of secret identities, power and deception — topics that should appeal to teens. Who knows — maybe you’re cool enough to be invited into the fray as well.
4. Phomemo Mini Sticker Printer
- Price: $33.99 on Amazon
With this mini sticker printer, the drawing skills that turned your refrigerator into the Louvre (but better) can be used to make stickers. As an inkless printer, it makes less mess, and your grandkids will never need to spend their own money on ink cartridges. The Phomemo app also includes more than 1,000 fonts, patterns, templates and themes to help them achieve the perfect look.
Your grandkids can turn their photos, memos, lists and study notes into peel-off stickers to adorn any journal, folder or water bottle — and you can show off their talents on your own materials.
5. The Complete “Summer I Turned Pretty” Trilogy (Boxed Set) Paperback
- Price: $24.62 on Amazon
You’ve been hearing about this series for quite some time now, so you know it’s popular with teenagers. You can acknowledge the trends — while also sneaking in your agenda for them to read more — by purchasing the paperback boxed set of this fun, romantic trilogy. You’re just going to steer clear of picking between Team Conrad and Team Jeremiah to keep the peace in your home.
6. 40 LED Photo Clip Fairy Lights
- Price: $16.99 on Amazon
If your teenage grandkid is going off to college, one of the most thoughtful gifts you can get them is a way to hold onto their memories. These bright fairy lights bring a touch of magic and whimsy to their dorm room while also letting them display their favorite photos of friends and family from home. It’s a sentimental gift with a modern, teen-approved twist.
Need a little extra holiday magic in your budget? MoneyLion is giving away $2,000 a day for 50 days starting Dec. 5. Sign up and see if this festive windfall lands under your tree.
Editor’s note: Product pricing and availability may vary depending on location.
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