<p>My friend runs an outreach center and she has some businesses (and some friends) who fund gifts for her kids. The email says please spend approx $150 so each child comes out around the same gift-wise. I enjoy participating, but I am known for “over-thinking” things. :-)</p>
<p>My girl is 17 and has a list of “camera, ipod, ‘hello kitty items’, Bed & body works…” and then her “dream gift” at the end is an Ipod Touch. Normally the dream gifts are not purchased and everyone knows that, so no real pressure, but…</p>
<p>I can get a refurbished 8gb Ipod touch for $129. That would cover both the camera and the ipod, but it is refurbished so there is some risk. Also, that will take almost all my money - I’d just squeeze in maybe $25 in Itunes money to go with it.</p>
<p>What do you think? Go with that? Or get a new camera with Ipod shuffle and misc gifts?</p>
<p>Will say the more current iPod Touch has a camera built in - so that could kill two birds with one stone. Then do a $15 Itunes and $15 at Bath and Body Works.</p>
<p>It is a lot of money, but a large percentage of her kids are foster kids and they get very little else. It’s kind of a splurge, but my kids are big and only want cash now, so I enjoy the shopping.</p>
<p>My H has a refurbished ipod that’s going on 4 years old without a problem. Until her BDay, D had a refurb ipod, also worked 4 years without a glitch. She now has a refurb iphone with no problems. Apple seems to do a great job on refurbishing, I would do it, and add some tunes. Kids who don’t have a phone plan love the ipod touch because you can text with them. What a nice thing you’re doing.</p>
<p>^^What zoosermom said. I’m sure the girl will be thrilled to recieve her dream gift! I have not had experience with refurbished Apple items, but I’ve bought plenty of refurbished cameras etc., and they all performed well. If it is a manufacturer-refurbished item, it should come with a warranty similar or identical to the one covering new items. Go for it! And if you have some leftover money, you can add a small iTune card and some Hello Kitty hair clips, erasers, pencils, etc. (Target or Sanrio?).</p>
<p>My 17 year old DD would be trilled with the Ipod Touch and the gift card and nothing else (if she didn’t have one already). Look for Black Friday “sales” on Itunes cards. Target had them the past couple years. I’ve volunteered with a Christmas Charity for many years and it’s the perceived value of the gifts that really matter, not so much what you actually spend on the gifts. The $ amount is more of a guideline of what kinds of gifts are expected. $150 is a LOT of stuff for say a 5 year old but a 17 year old knows that at I-Touch is expensive and I’m sure will be thrilled.</p>
<p>I think that is very generous and a 17 yr old will be thrilled and get years of use out of it.
I think it is both fun & practical.
I wouldn’t worry about refurbed, they look and perform identical to brand new.</p>
<p>The kids at this center are middle and high school ages. My friend is amazing. She just started the center a few years ago. They tutor the kids after school and offer dance and music classes. She fixes them a “snack” around 5pm which she says is all that most of them eat at night. S1 used to volunteer there quite a bit - he once made 75 “grilled cheese sandwiches” by himself and said he can no longer stand to eat them :-).</p>
<p>Thanks for the affirmation that a refurb is ok. I do worry about things like that. I’ll make sure to follow up that it works!</p>
<p>We sponsor Christmas gifts for one kid each year at a home for abused children. The saddest thing is that every year the kids put something on their list for the very parents whose abuse got them in there. I get all weepy every time we get a list. If you can afford it, I agree…go for the “dream gift”. So few of these kids dreams are ever fulfilled.</p>
<p>One word of caution with the I-Touch is that it’s easily sold for drugs…hopefully this girl will have parents that won’t do that to her, but unfortunately it happens, a lot. Maybe check with your friend to see if the gift is a good idea for this girl and if she will be able to keep it.</p>
<p>Apple sells products as ‘refurbished’ if the packaging has been opened, so you could be getting an otherwise new, unused product. </p>
<p>Several years ago, I got both kids nanos for Christmas and darling D1 opened the package, then said, “I really wanted an itouch” and handed me $100 of babysitting $ and asked me to upgrade. I had to fight at the Apple store not to be charged a return fee, but in the end they didn’t.</p>
<p>You are very genreous. I will mention that the refurnbished apple products I have purchased over the years have never come in the original packaging. Not a big deal, but it is obvious it is not brand new. Never had a problem with any of the products we have bought so I wouldn’t worry about the packaging though.</p>
<p>That is very gnerous of yoy and I agree with the others that say to get her the iPod! It includes a camera and you can get her a Hello Kitty case for it. An iTunes gift card and a couple of inexpensive items from Bath & Body Works and you’ve covered her list!</p>
<p>A couple of years ago #2 on the kid’s list was underwear. I just thought that was SO sad. I usually try to be more practical, but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do the “dream gift” :-).</p>
<p>I ordered the refurb IpodTouch from AppleStore for $129. There’s a store at the local mall and a nice warranty, so I think she’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Zoosermom is right - at 17 this is probably her last year at the center, so good to splurge for her a little.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the help! CC folks are always so helpful on ANY topic.</p>
<p>Fr a couple years, when H & I were separated, & the kids were young, I found myself going to the food bank at Christmas, even though I had always managed to avoid it in previous years no matter how tight money was.</p>
<p>But because it was around Christmas, they asked what ages were the girls and what they wanted. I just asked for hats & gloves, because they could always use those & I figured it wouldn’t put anyone out.</p>
<p>They received the hats and gloves, as well as a few very nice hardback picture books, which really broke my heart, as I felt I was getting more support from total strangers as some members of my family.</p>
<p>It might seem materialistic to some to wish for an ipod, but kids dearly want to fit in, especially teens and when someone shows that they are worth caring about, that is remembered and appreciated forever.</p>