Best Hanukkah Gifts on a Budget: Eight Days of Hanukkah Presents for Kids, Teens & Adults

Eight nights of gifts doesn't have to mean eight expensive gifts given to the receiver. You don't have to break the bank to celebrate the festival of lights, and in fact, the holiday has more meaning when you stick with traditional gifts and don't spoil the children with expensive gifts that they will come to expect in later years. Handmade gifts are always more meaningful that store-purchased items, but if you aren't creative, you can always purchase work from local artists, which has the added benefit of supporting the arts while you provide one-of-a-kind beauties to your family.

Night One:

Chanuakah

Even children appreciate the gift of a Chanuakah, or Menorah, a gift they will come to appreciate more as they get older, but if fire hazards are a concern, the dreidl is a traditional and always well loved present. This is an item you will definitely want to purchase from a specialty artist, and don't forget to include a roll of pennies with the present!

Night Two:

Generosity

Encourage your children to help other's less fortunate than themselves, either by giving a toy to child in a nearby shelter or taking hot soup and new gloves as a gift for a homeless person at a local food bank. While at the foodbank, perhaps you and your family will like to work for an hour or two in order to help everyone appreciate more fully their own good luck.

Night Three:

Togetherness

Make tonight a family night. Whether you stay in and play a new board game, or you book tickets to a great kid-friendly event in your neighborhood, or even take a vacation together, give each other the gift of togetherness by spending quality time with each other.

Night Four:

Knowledge

Feed your child's hunger for knowledge by giving her a gift designed to educate her more fully on the topic of her choosing. A magazine subscription is a great gift for a gift that your child can appreciate for a whole year, but your child may want to learn how to play a musical instrument, take dance classes, or supplies for the craft of her choosing. Whatever you do, make sure you allow your child to choose his or her own topic because nothing's worse that being forced to learn something you aren't interested in. (You remember that from your younger years, right?)

Night Five:

Labor

Create coupons for free labor to be given in equal increments to each member of the family. Whether these are used for laundry, yard work, or washing dishes, or something else entirely is up to the person using the coupon. Decide on any restrictions in advance, and be sure to include them in fine print so your surly teenager can't argue with you. Redeem them.

Night Six:

Comfort

Whether you give a new teddy bear, lavendar-scented pillow cases, or an item used for personal grooming, the gift of comfort should help the receiver feel relaxed and comfortable. You might choose a pair of soft slippers or even a cashmere sweater. Taking the idea of coupons from the previous night, you might want to tug in some Free Hug coupons with the comfort gift.

Night Seven:

Choice

Here's the night the kids will love best: Give the gift of choice in the form of a VISA Check Card or a gift card or certificate for his or her favorite store. Traditionally, money is given in $18 increments (from the numeric representation for the Hebrew word, chai, or life). This will allow your child to choose his or her own gift.

Night Eight:

Jewish / Israeli Theme

Help your child celebrate his or her heritage by giving the gift of being a Jew. Whether this means an inexpensive book about the history of the Judaic tradition, a budget friendly educational film, a trip to your local Jewish community center, or a private lesson with the family expert on how to make Matzoh balls, show your children that community and connection to the Jewish tradition is important.

For a great resource with even more suggestions on making this Hanukkah a special celebration, read Top Eight Chanukah Gift Ideas for Children by Dr. Flaura Koplin Winston.