Frugal Electronics!

[polyhymnia]

My company does an "adopt a family" program for christmas each year, like HOliday Helpers here. This year my department has two families. One family is a mother and her 7 and 4 year old children. They have asked for a tv, dvd player, computer and ipods. I'm in charge of organizing this for my department. Usually we get requests for smaller items, and we just do gift tags and employees take a tag and bring back the item - but as these are bigger ticket items I think we'll have to do it differently this year. I'm thinking maybe tags for "1/4 of a computer" or "1/2 of an ipod", then people will bring in money and I'll pool it all to buy the things. But, I don't usually buy these items and I don't know 1) reasonable prices for them or 2) ways to get good deals.

I would appreciate any help/advice on how to do this, I hope to find some great deals on these items so we can help make this family's wishes come true.

I am thinking a combo tv/dvd player is a good bet - maybe a laptop versus a desktop (these are families working with a Housing project so they may not have their own home, a laptop is a lot easier in this situation I think) - and I am thinking about mp3 player versus iPod for more bang for the buck. Thoughts?

[CallMeKelly]

Wow, drop . Ya'll sure are generous, that is one pricey wish list. No ideas I'm in too much shock. ETA: It looks like you are going in a sensible direction though. What about http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/index.php for the laptop? Here is a better link http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html...A34NLXJLC88VVS $399 to donate one and get one all for one low price.

[grniys]

Woah! Those are some pricey gifts.

Instead of an ipod, would an mp3 player work? That would probably bring the cost down considerably.

For ways to get good deals, I'd watch the Black Friday sales. And maybe overstock.com.

Good luck! PP is right, your company is really, really generous.

[polyhymnia]

Originally Posted by CallMeKelly

Wow, drop . Ya'll sure are generous, that is one pricey wish list. No ideas I'm in too much shock. ETA: It looks like you are going in a sensible direction though. What about http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/index.php for the laptop? Here is a better link http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html...A34NLXJLC88VVS $399 to donate one and get one all for one low price.

Wow, that is a great idea! THank you

Originally Posted by grniys

Woah! Those are some pricey gifts.

Instead of an ipod, would an mp3 player work? That would probably bring the cost down considerably.

For ways to get good deals, I'd watch the Black Friday sales. And maybe overstock.com.

Good luck! PP is right, your company is really, really generous.

Yes, I am thinking about deciding that mp3 player is okay versus "ipod".

I have to admit we are a little bit surprised by the gift requests, it is unusual, but we are trying not to pass judgement as we just cannot know what circumstances this particular family is in. I like to think that the mama will be using the computer to try to work from home, and the tv/dvd/mp3 will help the children stay occupied

[sanguine_speed]

Originally Posted by crayolaab

we are trying not to pass judgement as we just cannot know what circumstances this particular family is in. I like to think that the mama will be using the computer to try to work from home, and the tv/dvd/mp3 will help the children stay occupied

Wow, thank you for showing me how to think positively. I mean it--I really found this refreshing and uplifting.

[KateKat]

That's an interesting want list. In my opinion, if you're an adult on a charity Christmas list and you want an ipod, you probably aren't truely in need or you have some warped priorities. No need for clothes, kitchen suplies, or toys for the children?

The only thing on that list that I think is maybe reasonable is the computer and that's because it's such a great tool for job hunting and obtaining educational resources.

If that Christmas list came into my office, I'd try to swap it for a more reasonable one.

Edited to add: I'd hesitate to get a family so many things that can so easily be pawned.

[Tradd]

My church, through a local denominational organization, gets names from our local DCFS office (Cook County, IL - Chicago). The social workers will sit down with the children if they are old enough, otherwise, the parents will fill out the form - for the gifts the children want. I'm the coordinator for my parish.

The kids asking for expensive electronics has become a HUGE problem. Some churches are refusing to participate now or having trouble getting people to buy gifts because there are LOTS of teenagers in the program, and all they want are iPods, DVD, players, etc.

We've talked with the DCFS person who coordinates the program and it comes down to this: the kids, especially the older ones, see the things their peers have. They think an iPod is cool. They may have absolutely no idea how much it costs. They likely don't have ANY idea that you have to have a computer to put the music on the iPod! Lots of non-wired adults I've talked to didn't even know this!

So, what we are doing when kids are asking for expensive items is to simply buy a gift card for Target/Walmart/Kmart in an amount the family buying the gift can afford and that's it. It's a minimum of $20-25 usually, although some people with larger budgets will do more.

[polyhymnia]

Originally Posted by sanguine_speed

Wow, thank you for showing me how to think positively. I mean it--I really found this refreshing and uplifting.

Well, I'll be honest and say it took me most of today to get to this point. But when it comes down to it, these are all families working closely with this transitional housing program - they are there for any number of reasons, but 75% of the women were in abusive relationships prior to arriving at the shelter If this is what this woman and her children want and feel they need, then we'll do our best to get it for them. We have 40+ employees in my department so we should be able to take care of a lot of it - last year we got a bed/mattress, a dresser, a great carseat, an electric breast pump and lots of toys/clothes/grocery store cards, etc for our family - so I hope we can do the same this year.

Originally Posted by KateKat

That's an interesting want list. In my opinion, if you're an adult on a charity Christmas list and you want an ipod, you probably aren't truely in need or you have some warped priorities. No need for clothes, kitchen suplies, or toys for the children?

The only thing on that list that I think is maybe reasonable is the computer and that's because it's such a great tool for job hunting and obtaining educational resources.

If that Christmas list came into my office, I'd try to swap it for a more reasonable one.

Edited to add: I'd hesitate to get a family so many things that can so easily be pawned.

It is different than what I would want, that's true. But, I guess I kind of think that - especially the 7 year old - is probably under a lot of peer pressure at school to "fit in" and be like the other kids, and if an ipod will help him then so be it. Maybe they've decided not to ask for lots of toys because they're moving soon, and a few electronic items are easier to move. I don't know. But, this is a pretty well regarded program and all of the participating families are working with this program to get job training, find housing, get nutritional/family counselling, etc so I have to think that it will be okay.

[polyhymnia]

Originally Posted by Tradd

So, what we are doing when kids are asking for expensive items is to simply buy a gift card for Target/Walmart/Kmart in an amount the family buying the gift can afford and that's it. It's a minimum of $20-25 usually, although some people with larger budgets will do more.

I am glad to know that the gift card idea works for you - I think if we get each person who would normally buy an outfit or a small toy to contribute toward a larger item, we'll be able to do this.

[grniys]

Just a thought, but if the tv and dvd player end up costing more than the contributions coming in, computers do play dvd's.

[polyhymnia]

Originally Posted by grniys

Just a thought, but if the tv and dvd player end up costing more than the contributions coming in, computers do play dvd's.

Is that unversally true? I was also looking at an ASUS EEE or something like that, will it do DVDs? I think all I need to look for is a DVD drive right?

[CallMeKelly]

Craigslist might be the best bet for the TV and / or DVD player if yours has a swift moving electronics section. If it works and looks good, does it matter if it isn't new? To some people it might but if not for that family then that could work.

ETA: not all computers play dvd's it does have to have a special drive U R right.

P.S. after thanksgiving sales and doorbusters... there has to be someone here who will know ahead of time where to get good elec. deals.

[KateKat]

Originally Posted by crayolaab

It is different than what I would want, that's true. But, I guess I kind of think that - especially the 7 year old - is probably under a lot of peer pressure at school to "fit in" and be like the other kids, and if an ipod will help him then so be it. Maybe they've decided not to ask for lots of toys because they're moving soon, and a few electronic items are easier to move. I don't know. But, this is a pretty well regarded program and all of the participating families are working with this program to get job training, find housing, get nutritional/family counselling, etc so I have to think that it will be okay.

I'm willing to bet money that the ipod is for the mother, not the 7 year old. I have a family member who asks for things like that for her young son and guess who gets to use the new toy and guess who doesn't (hint: it's not the kid)?

You're a much nicer person than I am. My personal experience makes me very wary of a list like that.

[acegmom]

Originally Posted by Tradd

We've talked with the DCFS person who coordinates the program and it comes down to this: the kids, especially the older ones, see the things their peers have. They think an iPod is cool. They may have absolutely no idea how much it costs. They likely don't have ANY idea that you have to have a computer to put the music on the iPod! Lots of non-wired adults I've talked to didn't even know this!

:

I remember about 10 years ago doing a secret Santa through my daughters' dance school and one of the wish list items was a My Size Barbie. We didn't have one. We couldn't afford one. And I wasn't ever planning on buying one for my girls. But why should a child with less not be able to dream and wish for something special for Christmas morning? So I got 5 families together, we each put in $20, and the doll was purchased. When my girls (about 7 and 5 then-Barbie lived in my trunk for about a week) asked me about it, I told them that some families' finances were so tight, that Santa had to bring "practical" things like soap and socks. We were lucky enough to be able to provide a little extra joy with a special gift.

What a giving spirit you have.

Jill H.

(lucky mom to Amelia 18, Camille 16, Evan 13, and Gracie 11)

[CallMeKelly]

Maybe a bakesale or similar fundraiser could help raise enough?

I think that it is nice for them to dream big, it will be even nicer if you can make those dreams come true (now that I'm out of shock)

That is a beautiful, heartwarming story Jill :

[Tradd]

Originally Posted by acegmom

I remember about 10 years ago doing a secret Santa through my daughters' dance school and one of the wish list items was a My Size Barbie. We didn't have one. We couldn't afford one. And I wasn't ever palnning on buying one for my girls. But why should a child with less not be able to dream and wish for something special for Christmas morning? So I got 5 families together, we each put in $20, and the doll was purchased. When my girls (about 7 and 5 then-Barbie lived in my trunk for about a week) asked me about it, I told them that some families' finances were so tight, that Santa had to bring "practical" things like soap and socks. We were lucky enough to be able to provide a little extra joy with a special gift.

What a giving spirit you have.

Jill H.

"Something special" and "extravagant" are two totally different things, IMO. Frankly, things are so tight with many families this year that in my congregation of 200 people (not sure about how many households), I had a difficult time getting people to take a kid's name to buy for - my parish got the names of 25 kids. We were lucky that several more well-off folks took 2-4 names each.

If I had a hard time finding people who were willing to spend a mere $25 on a gift card ("mere" in relation to the expensive items which were what the majority of kids were asking for), you can be pretty sure that virtually none of these kids are going to be getting an iPod, DVD player, etc. All items HAVE to be new, so it's not like someone could contribute even a gently used one.

Out of the 25 kids we got this year, I'd have to say that the one that was probably the easiest to buy for - from what she was asking for - was the teenager who wanted to be able to hang out with her friends at McDonalds, Subway, and one other place I can't remember, and simply asked for gift cards to those places.

[polyhymnia]

Originally Posted by KateKat

I'm willing to bet money that the ipod is for the mother, not the 7 year old. I have a family member who asks for things like that for her young son and guess who gets to use the new toy and guess who doesn't (hint: it's not the kid)?

You're a much nicer person than I am. My personal experience makes me very wary of a list like that.

Well this list has two iPods, one under the "mom" and one under the 7yo. Hard to say really what exactly is what. We may be asking for a little clarification from the program director but not sure how much we'll be able to find out.

Jill, thanks for sharing that story

Originally Posted by CallMeKelly

Maybe a bakesale or similar fundraiser could help raise enough?

I think that it is nice for them to dream big, it will be even nicer if you can make those dreams come true (now that I'm out of shock)

That is a beautiful, heartwarming story Jill :

The floor below us do a bake sale every year so I think that would be stepping on their toes. I did get the manager to agree to giving us a casual dress day if we get $75 in the coin jar though! (last year we collected $150+ in the coin jar so hopefully this is totally doable!)

Tradd, the other family we are helping (we do 2 families when they are smaller - it is 5 people total for my department) has such simple, modest requests - it is heart wrenching. The mama has asked for underwear, socks, and pots/pans, and her daughter would like a bicycle and some books. It is a lot easier to meet these needs though I will say!

We always get each family gift cards to the grocery store, hat/scarf/mittens/gloves for each person, and some special things for the parents when they only ask for things for their children. Sometimes the request lists are really useless so in a way it is nice to get a specific list.

[Tradd]

Originally Posted by KateKat

My personal experience makes me very wary of a list like that.

Yeah, me, too. A good friend works as a receptionist for Catholic Charities. She admits she's become VERY wary because of her experiences with families coming in looking for assistance. Lots of trying to double dip, fudging addresses so they can get assistance from two Catholic Charities offices, etc.

The nicest spin I can put on it is that the kids have bought into the mainstream American society's materialism and they simply want what those around them have.

[Tradd]

Originally Posted by crayolaab

I am glad to know that the gift card idea works for you - I think if we get each person who would normally buy an outfit or a small toy to contribute toward a larger item, we'll be able to do this.

Don't be surprised, though, when folks in your department see that list and are hesitant to contribute. I know this from first-hand experience.

[polyhymnia]

Originally Posted by Tradd

Yeah, me, too. A good friend works as a receptionist for Catholic Charities. She admits she's become VERY wary because of her experiences with families coming in looking for assistant. Lots of trying to double dip, fudging addresses so they can get assistance from two Catholic Charities offices, etc.

The nicest spin I can put on it is that the kids have bought into the mainstream American society's materialism and they simply want what those around them have.

Maybe I should ask for more clarification. We have been working w/this same program for years now and it is my understanding that all of the families receiving assistance have been living at and working with the shelter for several months, and are actively receiving help as well as requesting aid of this sort. In which case I guess I can't see the harm in their list?