Would You Spend $75 for an Elf on the Shelf Kit? Our Team Weighed In… (Order NOW for On Time Delivery!)
Thinking about an Elf on the Shelf kit? Read this…
It’s that time of year again!
Whether you dread their arrival or embrace them every day, we’re sharing easy Elf on the Shelf kit ideas anyone will love! But are you willing to pay the cost?
Not only did our team weigh in, but we’ve also picked a few highly-rated Elf on the Shelf kits to make your life easier than ever this year!
Here are the 3 top-rated Elf on the Shelf kit ideas for 2022:
- The Elf Kit Company 2022 – $75+
- North Pole Co Build Your Own Elf Kit – $1.50+
- 24 Day Elf Excursions – $80
There are two types of elf parents:
- Lazy elf parents (me 🙋🏼♀️) and…
- Elf parents who do ALL the things…every. single. day.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all ever since my mom gifted my kids our Elf, Julia, 8 years ago (sigh) and I was forever forced to carry on the tradition. 😅
There are days I simply forget to even move her and many days I can’t muster up the energy to think of anything creative. However, after realizing there are so many easy elf kit ideas out there, our team started discussing if it’s really worth the money.
So it all started with an adorable $75+ Elf kit we discovered on Etsy…
Take this highly rated Elf on the Shelf kit from Etsy for example. The 12-day kit alone is $75 and to go all out for 24 days of complete curated fun, it’ll cost you a whopping $105! And if you really want to go overboard, you can splurge on a deluxe 30-day kit for a whopping $150. 😱
Complete with endless props, games, and even daily directions (with pictures!), it basically seems like a no-brainer for anyone who has an elf squatting in their house all December.
However, broken down, that’s just a mere $4.38 a day for the ultimate elf experience. Seems pretty reasonable, right?! 🤷🏼♀️
Here’s what my Hip Elf Sidekicks had to say about spending just $75+ on an Elf on the Shelf kit:
Some shot it down immediately (sorry, Elves)…
“No, I wouldn’t buy this. I think it’s such a cute idea and I love the concept. However, I was a lazy Elf mom and didn’t do the cool Elf on the Shelf displays. 🤪 Back when my kids were little and enjoyed this tradition, my hubby and I would just move the Elf to different spots in the house – like sitting in the Christmas tree, on the fireplace, in a stocking, in a light fixture, etc. We never did anything more than just moving the Elf, but our kids still thoroughly enjoyed it.” – Collin
“I’m in the same boat as Collin! We just moved the elf around the house but didn’t go all out with accessories and such. So no, I don’t think I’d splurge on this set. I’m totally Christmas obsessed, but this was not my favorite tradition.“ – Jenna P.
“I agree with Collin and Jenna. When we did Elf on the Shelf I felt so much pressure just to make sure the darn thing moved every night. If I had added the pressure of this kit, it would have taken me over the edge for sure.” – Bryn
“For $75+, it better include an actual person to come to my house and do all these activities. I’m lucky if I even remember to move the elf most of the time. 🙈” – Nicole
“Surprisingly, we don’t do the Elf on the Shelf. I love over-the-top DIY stuff, but I justify NOT spending that much on a kit because I already make ‘projects’ for my kiddos to do when they wake up each morning. I reuse everything around the house so I’m sure I could do it for way less than $75!” – Chelsey
“My answer is a simple no, I wouldn’t buy the kit because we’ve never done Elf on the Shelf and never plan to. 🙂 Just not our thing.” – Melinda
And one of us may have made the splurge, but…
“I’m torn. My daughter has been obsessed with her Elf ‘Coco Sprinkles’ for the past 4 years and while I do just move the elf around every night, I also will write lefty and leave her notes every once in a while and she loses her mind when I do. I’m just not that creative and I know that she would 100% enjoy everything in this kit. However, I’m also one of the cheapest human beings on the planet so $75 gives me definite pause. I think if the price were $40 I would do it or if my daughter was a few years younger.” – Jessica
And a couple of my Hip Elves actually have me totally convinced…
“Ok, I’ve seen these kits and they are super cute! If it brings joy then yes, I’d totally buy it. On a side note, if I can have my kids back to being little again who were nice and into this stuff I’d give them all the money. 🤣🙌🏻😭” – Lina
“Yes, definitely! For 30 days’ worth, it’s a great value! I always spend quite a bit at the Dollar Tree each year doing cool things for it anyways. For busy moms who forget what to do every night (aka half my FB), it’s really a no-brainer.” – Angela
Feeling like you definitely need an Elf on the Shelf kit full of ideas now? Here are the 3 best ones to splurge on this year:
1. You can choose from 10 to 30 days worth of days for this Elf kit and it comes with all the props your heart will desire.
The Elf Kit Company 2022 – $75+
*Ships FREE
As we’ve already talked about above, this Elf kit will be anyone’s dream come true and can have every day taken care of once your Elf makes their arrival. Each day will come individually packed with props, photos, and instructions on how to set up each day. Plus, it will even come with return and goodbye letters, a parent pocket calendar, naughty and nice notice cards, and a pack of letters to write to Santa. They’ve done all the thinking for you!
2. Customize your own kit with these elf on the shelf kit ideas starting under $2.
North Pole Co Build Your Own Elf Kit – $1.50+
*Shipping is $9.99 or Ships FREE on $35+ orders.
Don’t need a whole month’s supply of elf kit ideas? Then we recommend building your own from the North Pole Co and options start at just $1.50 and go up to $5.99! Sure, these could add up just as quickly as all the other kits available and there are countless irresistible options to choose from, but if you’re just wanting a week’s worth to fill in for those busy days this couldn’t be more perfect.
Each day you purchase is individually packaged and will include all the adorable supplies, props, and directions you’ll need. Having some of these stashed away will make the nights you totally forgot about the elf so much easier. Plus, with the low cost of these, you could potentially get well over a week’s worth of ideas and score free shipping and spend just $35 in total. 🙌🏼
3. Grad this complete 24-day kit which breaks down to just $3.83 per day.
24-Day Elf Excursions – $80
*Shipping $12.27
This 24-day complete kit is one of the most affordable we found for the quality. After shipping, this kit breaks down to a mere $3.83 per day and it even comes with a pair of magical gloves in case your elf needs to be moved. In each of the 24 days, you’ll receive a daily bag of all the supplies you’ll need, a daily card, parent instructions, and pictures of how to set up your elf scene. Plus, several of the items are custom made so you can assure you’ll be getting a unique and one-of-a-kind kit! Just be sure to order ASAP so it gets to you just in time.
Not feeling the boujee Elf on the Shelf kit ideas?
You’re certainly not alone!
While many of us think these popular Elf on the shelf kit ideas are super cute, there are quite a few of us who couldn’t imagine splurging on such a thing.
Funny enough, my Hip sidekick, Jessica’s daughter gave us some inspiration with her adorable and handcrafted Elf a home. So as an alternative, get your kiddos involved and make some fun scenes…and your elf may just love them more. 😉
Check off the rest of your list with our 2022 Christmas gift ideas!
I spent $55 or $60 last year and I would absolutely do it again!!! Much , much easier. I found the tradition exhausting 😂 happy my boys are beyond it this year.
Thanks for sharing about your experience, Lindsey! I would totally do the same! ❤️
Hard NO!!! I wouldn’t have any of these creepy little things in my house if you gave it to me for free.
We have an elf that was regrettably given to my oldest from my mother-in-law when she was little. Since then my little ones always look forward to the elf’s arrival. We’ve always just moved the elf around at night but I still don’t like the pressure of remembering to do it. I think the props are odd because the elf just sits there not doing the activity it’s staged to be doing. Seems like an invitation for kids to start doubting the authenticity. But this year because even though I don’t really want to do the elf, I know they’ll be looking for her, so I decided this year the elf will be presenting my kids with a 25 day kindness challenge. There are free printable cards on Pinterest. Each day she’ll be holding a new card with an act of kindness for my kids to do that day. Hoping this helps them focus more on the true spirit of Christmas- as opposed to the mischievous elf that some people do. I just don’t get that at all 🤷🏼♀️
Absolutely love the idea of your elf kindness challenges, Laura! Thanks so much for taking a moment to share about your experience and your plans for the elf this year! ❤️
No way, 100% over it!
Love this idea! Cash back on Rakuten too!
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Maybe it’s because, as a divorced mom, I only have to move/stage the elf about half the time, but I like having an Elf on the Shelf. Before the elf joined us, I was doing an advent calendar full of holiday books and family activities like puzzles. For me, it’s an opportunity to spread out Christmas fun across an entire month.
My daughter is 13 now and she seems to enjoy the elf and waking up to surprise birthday decorations more than receiving a pile of presents for special occasions. Currently our elf brings small gifts and treats most days and the pose fits the prize.
I don’t think I could convince myself to spend $75+ on a full kit but I could see buying a few inexpensive props if they were especially creative (and shipping was low priced enough).
I prefer to do DIY props n get ideas fr Pinterest. I collect miniatures, including Mini Brands, so I’m not spending more money on this activity. In general, parents r getting too much piled onto them for Christmas: decorating, cooking, gifting, advent calendars, parties, more events…n now Elf on the Shelf? I’m going to start eliminating so the unnecessary stress doesn’t take away fr the true Christmas spirit. This year I’ll skip advent calendars n hosting nativity viewing. I’ll do Elf on the Shelf cause my girls r already asking about it, but I’m definitely not buying kits.
Last year we got the Giving Manger and I like that so much more than any advent calendar or creepy elf!
I wouldn’t buy this for many reasons….one being that I don’t repeat what the elf does from year to year. I have a pinterest board that works just fine. I love the acts of kindness cards!! I will definitely do that this year!!
Yes!!! The acts of kindness cards are definitely a keeper!!!💗