Kids love toys, and if they watch any of the more popular kid channels, they are going to see tons of toy commercials every day. Kids want all the neatest toys that they see commercials about, and parents are going to hear about it until the toy is bought.  However, there are ways for kids to have great toys without it costing mom and dad a lot of money.

#1. Check the newspaper for garage sale advertisements.

The spring and summer is the biggest garage sales seasons there are because the weather is so nice, and the warm weather encourages everyone to leave their homes and go shopping. Garage sales can be a great place for parents to get rid of the toys their children are no longer interested in. Remember that old saying; some people’s trash can be other people’s treasure.

#2. Online auctions offer everything including toys.

There are many websites that offer auctions, and people who do not want to take the time and effort to have a garage sale can end up putting their toys up for sale on an online auction. With an auction, people can get a description of the toy, what condition it is in, and the cost to send it to the winner’s home.

#3. Craigslist can have toys for sale.

Craigslist has local listings for pretty much anything including toys. The best thing about Craigslist is the fact that everything is local, which means that the buyer and seller can exchange text messages or emails, then meet up and make the deal.

#4. Thrift stores have toys that have been donated.

Shopping at thrift store can offer parents the chance to buy toys that other parents want to give away because they cannot sell them at garage sales or their children are simply bored with them. The toys may not be in the best shape because children can be rough on toys, but they will still be good enough to play with for quite some time.

#5. Look into toy swapping.

Parents more than likely have made friends with other parents, and when the kids all play together, this is the perfect chance for a toy swap. Make a play date, and have all the kids bring at least one toy, and when all the kids play together, there is a good chance that the kids will be perfectly happy playing with someone else’s toy.  If the children meet up on a regular basis to play together, then a toy swap can take place, and kids get a chance to play with someone else’s toys for a week or two.

#5. Introduce children to simpler toys.

These days, children love to play with fancy toys with a lot of electronics and flashing lights. However, there are a lot of simple toys that can give children a lot more pleasure than something electronic. Parents can show their children old fashioned toys they grew up with, and children can put their imagination to the test, which can offer them a lot more fun then something electronic that requires batteries.