How to Buy Christmas Gifts for Multiple Teenage Girls During a Recession

Christmas during a recession is a tough time for large families. Attempting to provide children with the same experience that they have become accustomed to can prove almost impossible with rising prices, job losses, and a flippant economy. If you have a family full of daughters similar in age, you know that means skimming back on labels and favorite brands on an extreme scale, without question. Or does it? Believe it or not, you may be able to pull off a holiday gift list similar to those your daughters experienced in more abundant years without begging, borrowing, or stealing. Rather than shortening the list or filling it with cheap alternative makeup and perfume, check out the following tips on how to buy Christmas gifts for multiple teenage girls during a recession.

Tip #1: When buying perfume and cosmetics for multiple teen daughters, skip the expensive beauty stores and hit discount online shops. There are several excellent authorized online discount retailers of brand name cosmetic products with every quality seal of approval you'd require from any brick and mortar store. Think of them as outlet malls. They tend to stock extra products that more expensive stores have handed down for next to nothing, meaning they can transfer those lower prices to their customers. You can expect discounts as deep as 50% off on brand name perfume, body products, makeup, and more. (Strawberrynet is an excellent resource, but there are others similar).

Tip #2: Take advantage of used CD's, movies, and video games. If your teen daughters love music, movies, or gaming, have no qualms about stretching your dollars this Christmas by purchasing their favorites from stores that offer previously viewed items. Major used game and movie stores offer guarantees on all of their products just as you could expect with anything new. Not only that, but they rewrap everything they offer. Your daughters will never know the difference. It's not fun to think about buying anything used for your children for Christmas, but during a recession every dollar counts. Also, bear in mind that buying used music, movies, and games is now the trend rather than the exception. Just be sure to remove the "used" sticker!

Tip #3: Transform clothing needs into wants with outlet malls. While teens girls often love getting clothing and accessories for Christmas, not just any label will do (as you likely already know). However, buying brand name labels during a recession Christmas for several teenage girls can be a daunting thought. This is where outlet malls and a little research into your teens' wardrobes comes into play. Check your daughters' closets for things they'll be in need of soon. What's in the most desperate need of being replenished? After you have made a list for each daughter, hit the outlet malls and find designer label clothing at up to 80% off the retail price. You've not only given them their favorite brands to flaunt, but you've also secretly taken care of a need. Just be sure not to mention that you made your purchases based on your knowledge of what they lacked in their wardrobes. These are gifts, not necessities. You didn't have to search for brand names. Leave it at that, and they'll be sure to enjoy them all the more.

Tip #4: Buy beauty and bath sets that can be divided. Buying beauty and bath kits in bulk, such as in large gift baskets, and separating the products for each teen daughter can work if done carefully. Pair products that complement each other. Body wash and lotion must remain together, while bubble bath and bath salts can be given to another daughter. It's best if you can find sets with multiple scents and colors. Bath an Body Works and similar stores often offer large gift sets at Christmas that can easily be divided and rewrapped. Again, make sure that each daughter has a set of products that go with one another, and try to mix it up a bit. You can even create your own less expensive gift baskets with the products by adding a loofah and a few sale items from throughout the store.

Tip #5: Skip the department stores and hit the specialty junior's shops. If you head out to the mall every year for your teen daughters' Christmas shopping lists, you could be spending far more than necessary. Popular stores for teen girls right now include Forever21, Rampage, BodyC, Charlotte Russe, and the like, and they all offer prices that are considerably lower than average mall retail prices. The great news is you'll never have to fight through a crowd to get to them (they all offer online shopping) and their prices are up to 75% cheaper than department store prices. Choose from tops, dresses, shoes, jewelry, handbags, scarves, and more for your teen daughters and be ready to pile up. The average cost for a new top at one of these stores is around $19.00, with some as low as $10.00.

With these tips in mind, buying Christmas gifts for a household of multiple teen daughters during a recession doesn't have to be a bleak task. Now tie up those running shoes and get to it!