Kids love to play and as parents, it's our job to make sure that they have what they need. That includes toys! Of course, kids don't always have to have the most popular or greatest "so-called" toys out there, but they do need toys for learning, creativity, and of course, lots of great fun. In an economy crisis, buying toys may seem a little wasteful for some, but it doesn't have to be.

It is absolutely possible for any frugal fashionista to get her kids great toys during this economy crisis if she follows these three easy tips:

Try having a toy trade party. Families will love the opportunity to swap toys while saving. Cost-conscious parents know that buying toys in retail stores can be pretty bad for a budget, but with the toy trade, kids can get "new" toys in a flash and for free!

A family toy exchange event can be fun to organize. Just invite a bunch of families to bring their gently used or new toys to a big place, like a community center, church, or school. Have a team prepared to organize the toys so that it's easy for the kids to find exactly what they are looking for. Then, let the kids pack boxes, bags, and totes full of "new" toys! They get to pick anything they want and parents never have to pay one penny!

Set realistic toy budgets and always try to catch the deals. Do your best to avoid paying full retail price for any toys. One of the best ways to buy for cheap is to set yourself a toy budget that will help you to stay on pace, financially, when you are out shopping for toys. Dont' just think you will find everything at the dollar store. Those toys are not always the "best" buy because they are cheaply made and may not be the safest choice either. Just look for sales and grab those opportunities for saving, cost comparing, and chances to buy for cheap.

After each holiday, such as Christmas and Easter, many stores put toys on sale for up to 60% off of the original retail price. That is the perfect time to buy for cheap for birthdays, family days, and other times when you will need toys. Expect to get great buys for next to nothing during those sale seasons.

Always, always check the thrift stores and frequent those yard sales! Any frugal fashionista could save up to 90% off of the regular retail price just by going to a thrift store or buying the toy second hand. You may even find toys that are brand-new in packages that other kids just didn't want or never got a chance to play with.

Get toys for free! Yes, you can get toys for free. Try going the consignment route! Take some of your gently used stuff to a local consignment shop, where they will give you store credit or cash for your old stuff. Then, you simply take the money or credit and get some more toys either from the consignment shop or by using your cash elsewhere. Thus, your child gets "new" toys completely free!

Posted under Toys