Best Christmas Gifts for Teen Girls 2009

This Christmas, money is tight for many households, which means gift giving may need to be scaled back. If you're on a limited budget, it's time to make sure you get the most "bang" for your buck. That is to say, make sure you're spending your hard earned money on what they REALLY want this Christmas, instead of buying a bunch of things and hoping they love one or two of them!

If you have teen girls to buy for, like me, you have probably already realized that they are a pain to shop for! There's so much out there being thrown at you as THE thing to have this year, so how do you sort it all out? Here are a few ideas sure to please any type of teen girl. Since I am no longer a teenaged girl (sigh) I went straight to the source and asked my two 14 year old nieces. Here's what I came back with.

For the Fashionista

The fashionista is all about what's hot, and what's now. So what IS hot this year? Designer bags and sunglasses are all the rage. You don't have to break the bank for these Fashionistas though! Check to see if her favorite designer has a local outlet store. You can score some serious bargains at the outlets, and nobody needs to know! Smaller bags, wallets, and wristlets will set you back less green than a huge tote or duffel. Remember, big things come in small packages! For example, if your girl is a Coach addict, consider adding a small piece to her collection. The Coach Poppy line is youthful and hot, with accessories that won't break the bank. A Poppy Patent Wristlet is just $58! If she likes the classic Coach style more, take a look at the Coach website for jewelry (I bough an adorable enamel Coach ring for just $68) and other accessories. A Coach ponytail scarf runs just $38. If you aren't sure what she will like, consider giving a gift card for her favorite designer, and let her use it towards what she's had her eye on for months. Steer clear of auction sites and flea-market type resellers though, unless you yourself are well versed in designers, otherwise you may wind up with a fake. Fashion this fall is all about accessories, and many big box retailers are jumping in with affordable, yet totally cool collections. Anna Sheffield for Target is a chic line of trendy jewelry that is both fierce and cute, tough and soft. It's a very nostalgic and vintage looking collection, and the price is just right for a teen who will be on to the next trend soon.

For the Techie

If you have a technology loving teen on your list this year, consider yourself lucky! These can be some of the easiest, longest lasting gifts to buy, and it's always easy to find a great deal on technology. First, of course, is the iPod. An iPod Nano is probably the best deal for any teen, and if you buy direct from Apple, they usually offer free engraving. The newest generation of the smallest video capable iPod comes in a variety of colors, weighs just over 1 ounce (yes, one OUNCE!) and has tons of cool features, such as a video camera, FM Radio with the ability to pause live radio!

A digital camera is usually on the list for these types (or any type really!). There are so many options available for any budget these days, and you can find a camera in a snazzy color for under $100 on sale in most stores. Consider the Nikon Coolpix S220. Available in 6 colors, this camera is sure to be a hit. It has a 3x Zoom, and packs a whopping 10 megapixels. It's small and portable, and can be found for less than $130, but is still backed by Nikon quality.

For the Beauty Lover

For the beauty lover, head over to sites like Sephora. They have great deals on gift sets for the beauty conscious teen, like the Too Faced Glamour Revolution gift set, which gives you a whole beauty makeover all wrapped up in one package. The I Love Sephora brush set is a great choice too. It has 5 essential brushes all in once neat little travel kit, perfect for touch-ups on the go.

For the Twilight Lover

Let's face it, Twilight is all the rage this year, so I had to add a category for the Twilight Lover on your list. The Twilight Journals (less than $20 at online retailers like Amazon.com) are sure to be a hit. This collection includes 4 pretty journals, one for each book in the series, packaged in a keepsake tin. The journals each contain artwork and quotes from the Twilight series and other literature as well as space to record personal thoughts. The Twilight Collector's Edition is a good choice, with a beautiful slipcase for a cloth cover, ragged edged copy of the book. The book features new chapter opener designs and a ribbon bookmark as well. The Twilight store on Amazon is a great place to find deals on beautiful Twilight gifts from books and games to jewelry and keepsakes.

These are just a few ideas to get you started shopping for that teenaged girl on your Christmas list this year. I hope this list has helped!