Can you believe how close we are to Christmas already? I already need to start thinking about my shopping list! Now that all of my nieces and nephew are either tweens or teens, it makes gift-giving a little more difficult—especially since they all have different personalities. Y’all, I hate when I type in “best gifts for teen girls” and Apple Air Pods come up on the list! Um…that does not fit my budget in any way, shape or form. How much are people spending on their kids?! In any case, I still love choosing just the right gift so I wanted to share my best gifts for teenage girls (Under $30) with you. (Guys’ list here!)
I know, maybe it seems early to be thinking about Christmas shopping (I guess that depends on when you are reading this!) But seriously, Hobby Lobby has had Christmas items on the shelves since July!
Now, I cannot tell you how much I hate that! I hate it so much that sometimes, I won’t even go into the store between July and November! It is cold almost year-round where I live. This year, we had freezing temperatures through the end of May and by the end of August! That’s how long our freezing season is. So, in the tiny fraction of the year that we don’t have freezing temperatures, I do NOT want to think about Christmas! So. Annoying.
PLUS, by the time I have looked at those decorations for six months in the store, I’m TIRED of them and don’t want to buy anything! And the last thing I want to do is be tired of Christmas before it arrives. Eww. Seriously, if you work at Hobby Lobby, share my complaints with your manager because this clearly bothers me more than I realized!
Anyway, the point is that even though I don’t want to look at Christmas décor in July, I do like to think about my Christmas gift list around September. Because I like to be done with my shopping by Thanksgiving. I know. I miss out on Black Friday, but seriously, that is a choice I make for my mental health! The human race, in general, disappoints me on Black Friday. So, personal choice made there!
I wonder what Black Friday will look like with COVID-19? Will there even be a Black Friday this year? Another reason you should probably get going on that list now!
Now that I got those things off my chest, it’s time to start thinking about my gift list for this year. And I have five nieces and a nephew to buy for, so big-ticket items are just not going to happen. All of these items are in the $10-$30 range and are tried-and-true best gifts for the tween and teen girls in my life!
Best Gifts for Teen Girls Under $30
- Funny T-shirts—
This one is something you really can’t go wrong with, provided you know your teen’s personality. When my niece was in ninth grade, she hated Algebra, so I got her this cute T-shirt.
There are so many cute t-shirts on Etsy! Just know your audience and choose the one that fits her personality best. Caution: you may end up adding a few t-shirts to your cart for yourself…or maybe that’s just me. I love t-shirts!
There actually is one word of warning though. When choosing a t-shirt for a teenager, remember that teens don’t need any help in the “snarky” department! There are a lot of sarcastic t-shirts out there, and if you’re like me, you might find them a little bit humorous. However, if you don’t want your teen actually saying things like, “Ewww. People.” Or “Sorry I’m late. I didn’t want to come.” Then, maybe don’t buy a t-shirt with rude words on it either. Keep it positive!
- Erasable pens—
Both my tween and teen nieces have loved getting a set of these Frixion erasable pens.
Believe me when I say that these are not the erasable pens of our youth! They have come a long way! There are several different sets available; one even includes erasable highlighters, which I’ve heard great things about. Usually, I have paired them with printed, personalized stationery, or a sketchpad and they’ve been such a hit that both nieces and nephews have asked for them! (Can you believe the guys didn’t ask for the stationery or a sketch pad? Ha! Ha! They just liked the pens!)
- Nail Wraps—
There are several designs and brands to choose from with nail wraps. We have used Jamberry, ColorStreet, and Incoco. They all work well, though we got much better results when we cleaned my daughter’s nails with lemon juice before applying. Otherwise, the wraps just don’t stay on well.
Like any other independent sales type business, there are usually many people trying to get rid of their stock on eBay for less than you would normally pay so you can get more bang for your buck! However, if you know someone who sells them, it’s really great to support local business owners!
If you’re buying from someone on eBay, you’re supporting that business owner by helping her make a little money from what she has left in stock. If you’re buying from a friend, paying full price doesn’t seem as bad either! It’s a win-win!
BONUS: My daughter wore her Jamberry nail wraps long enough to help her break the habit of biting her fingernails! Definitely something to try if you’re fighting that battle!
- Room Décor—
All the teen girls in my life have loved twinkle lights and picture clips for their rooms; or if you know their styles well, you can get them a cute picture to complement the décor. I particularly love doing this if I know my niece has recently redecorated; or when one of my nieces moved into her own room. Room décor also makes a great gift for the girl recently in college!
By the time Christmas rolls around, she’s very likely to have settled in fairly well. Having something new to put up on her wall when she gets back after Christmas break will not only give her something to look forward to, but will also freshen up a dorm room that the “newness” has worn off of!
Try to choose things that may be a little more high-end than what she would normally buy for herself as a poor, college kid. You know—a cute laundry bag instead of the $2 mesh one from Walmart or a cute write-on, wipe-off calendar, instead of the free one from the career fair, adds a little pizazz to a poor girl’s life!
- Certificate for a Massage or a Facial—
These are best for older teens. The stress of being a teenage girl can be outrageous sometimes! Acne, schoolwork, extra-curricular activities, finals, body-image, and mean girls are only scratching the surface of the stress teen girls feel. Maybe the girl just needs a little pampering over Christmas break!
And of course, maybe your teen would be nervous about getting a massage or a facial by herself. If this is the case, maybe you could do a “sisters gift” and two sisters could go together. Or, if you can afford it, get one for her and a friend! Depending where you live, Groupon has some great deals sometimes, but you might be able to call the place directly and get the same deal!
The truth is that even though, as adults, we see the bigger picture and we realize that teen issues are not as big of a deal as they seem…Remember, that just because it’s not a big deal to you, does not mean it’s not, or shouldn’t be, a big deal to her.
The main thing is to know your audience. If you’re looking for a sweet gift for a special teen in your life, think about what makes her special. What do you love about her? Find something meaningful to who she is to you! And please take the time to write a meaningful card or letter, or even just a simple little note, to include with the gift. Words of encouragement might be the best gift you could give the teenage girl in your life right now!
Making a teenage girl feel a little extra special will pretty much NEVER be a wrong choice! Don’t forget how hard those years were! If you can, go the extra mile to choose the perfect gift, especially if it’s for someone sentimental or for someone whose love language is gifts. There is so much joy in seeing someone you love open a gift and love it!
RElated: 5 Best Keepsake Gifts for Kids’ Milestone Birthdays
