Flexible Flyer Sled -aka, the bone-breaker, the suicide machine, frozen death. You can still get one of the these at local auctions and consignment shops for about $25.00 or less, if you choose one of the later models that have the rounded, “safety end” runners.
The ones that are earlier than that have the straight edge runners, these will be more pricey.
Rumor has it that these were the original inspiration for health insurance, and I believe it. If nothing else, when you tell your kid this is what you used “back in the day”, you'll gain some serious respect.
All kidding aside, these are still great for small backyard hills, and pulling the family pet around. I don't recommend them for steep hills. If you soap up the blades they will glide a lot easier.
Knitting tools and supplies – I don't have to tell you that knitting is making a big comeback among the young and old alike. Things like large wooden knitting needles, crochet hooks, how-to books, and other notions can be found at bargain prices in consignment shops, auction halls and thrift stores throughout the country. They are usually constructed much better than the newer counterparts.
I don't knit, but I've always thought that antique supplies complement crafts with a certain charm that is bound to inspire the artisan. You can even find some of the older hooks in ivory and sterling silver.
Carpentry tools – Stay with me here. If you've got a middle age child who has taken an interest in building things, you can either get them one of those cheesy little basic tool kits that you see in the big box stores OR you can build a basic set of good quality vintage items.
If you shop smart, you should be able to find a decent hammer, 2 screw drivers, (Phillips head and flat head) a small saw, a tape measure, and a metal box for about $15-$30. Be sure to inspect handles closely for splits ect.
When you give little Johnny the new set of tools, pull out the hammer and say, “let's go smash that X-Box 360 you got last year so you can re-join the family, then we're going to build a bookshelf”!
Make sure mom has a digital camera handy to capture that mortified look on his face. You'll have Christmas laughs for years to come.
(Just a note: You'll probably put a damper on things if you actually do smash up the video game console, I recommend hiding it for a few days instead)
There's always a good amount of old tools at flea markets. With the new flat rate shipping boxes from the USPS, it's now affordable to ship heavy items via priority mail, so you may still have time to find a great deal on a batch of tools from eBay, or Bonanzle.com
Costume Jewelry – Why give new cheap plastic jewelry to little girls, when you can give cheap old costume jewelry for about 1/3 to ½ the price? If they keep some of it in good condition, it will be worth more later on. Expect to pay more for names like Trifari, Monet, and Miriam Haskell, but unmarked pieces can often be found in big batches at flea markets for $5-$10 if your not too picky.
Any thing in said batch is bound to be of higher quality than new toy jewelry you can get. For another $10.00 I'll bet you can find a nice box to put it in.
A Yo-Yo – This one should be obvious. Who doesn't light up when they get a Yo-Yo in their hands.
I recommend the Duncan “Butterfly”, with it's wide, flared sides, it's the easiest to master. Make sure the gift recipient is standing a good distance away from any precious Christmas ornaments when trying it out. You should be able to get one for about $5.00 - $10.00
An antique Christmas ornament: Start a family tradition and give each child a nice antique or vintage Christmas ornament. This is something that they'll truly remember for years to come. The price range no more than $5.00- $15.00 each. You can get them in just about any consignment shop, or thrift store.
I understand that kids are kids and that completely filling the Christmas list with older items is not going to get you the “parent of the year” award. But giving one or two quality vintage items will help with the budget, lessen the impact of their carbon footprint, and teach them a respect for having something durable vs. disposable.
Don't your kids deserve at least one Christmas gift that will last?
I'd love to hear from some of you, about your favorite Christmas gifts that have lasted throughout the years.
In my opinion the 2 best places to shop online for vintage Christmas gifts are: Bonanzle.com and
eBay.com See over 600 antiques appraisals & articles by the author at
www.AuctionWally.com - No sign up required.
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