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With only a
few shopping days left before Christmas, many parents are
experiencing panic trying to figure out what to buy their kids
when there are other demands on the budget this season such as
providing heat for the winter months, gas that is now over $3 a
gallon at the pump, and providing winter coats and sweaters to
keep warm. Many parents are worried about giving their children
the essentials; yet want to still provide their children with a
joyous holiday season.
After 38
years of Christmases as a mom who had to budget every penny, I
have come up with some holiday tips and ideas that may spare you
high credit card bills, past due notices from your creditors,
and visits to the doctor because of holiday depression.
All kids love
to receive gifts, but they don’t always remember the big,
expensive, elaborate ones for long. What will cause lasting
memories and joy for the years to come cannot be bought.
Instead of falling into the trap of commercialism this year,
give your kids the best Christmas ever while keeping your
checkbook balanced.
The following
are 10 sure-fire tips to choose from. With just a bit of
creativity, you can personalize each one of these ideas to your
children. Remember that kids translate “time” as equaling
“love.” The most precious moments of Christmas are those times
spent together in laughter and enjoyment of one another. Ask
your kids, and they’ll tell you what really counts!
This year,
spend less money and more time together and I’ll guarantee you
that this will be your most memorable Christmas ever. My eleven
kids remind me of that every year when I ask them what they want
for Christmas. The answer is always, “Time together as a family
laughing and talking about the fun things we did this past
year.”
Choose an
idea or two from this list, and be prepared to have a most
memorable holiday!
- Make a
scrapbook of memories about your child – this will be a
timeless keepsake for years to come! Every child needs to
know that you care. What better way than to present a picture
journal of their highlights of the year?
- Present
your child with trip certificates. Be creative. Choose one
trip per month that is a free or almost-free trip to a park,
museum, learning center, play, or sports event. You can
create fun certificates on the computer, and give a crisp
five-dollar bill with each certificate. Then, follow through
and enjoy 12 one-day adventures with your child during the
year. You will create memories that will never be forgotten!
- Allow your
child to choose a gallon of paint in his favorite color and
then give permission for him to turn his bedroom into a
fantasy world. The decorating might not be to your taste, but
your child will love you forever for allowing his room to
reflect his personality. I still have a bedroom painted with
Winnie-the-Pooh and rainbow colored handprints!
- Buy your
child a pair of warm, fuzzy pajamas and a special book.
Present 11 coupons for a book-a-month to be purchased along
with a trip alone with you to a bookstore for the remaining
months of the year. Snuggle up and read together and enjoy
the adventures that only can be found in good books.
- Buy a
boxful of party items – party hats, decorations, party favors,
and balloons. Then, give a special “I love you” note saying
that you will provide your child with one of the most fun
parties ever. Allow your child to invite her best friends and
enjoy a day of fun and laughter. The party will never be
forgotten and the memories will last forever!
- Give your
child one hand-written gift certificate for $25 per month for
each month of the year. You and your child can make plans to
spend an afternoon together once a month and your child can
buy the item of her choice. You’ll teach saving, budgeting,
patience, and the joy of expectation. And, you’ll get to
spend time together!
- Give a
blanket, a flashlight, and a canteen. Include a special
“indoor camping” certificate good for six times during the
year. Fix an old-fashioned tent in the living room and learn
how to be a kid again with your child. Stay up all night
telling scary stories and eating popcorn. What fun! Mark the
dates on the calendar and watch your child wait in
anticipation for each fun night.
- Buy your
child a piggy bank that cannot be broken into. Give your
child a voucher for placing one dollar every day into the
piggy bank for the next 365 days. By you giving up a pack of
gum or one cup of coffee a day, you and your child can watch
the piggy bank grow to the large sum of $365. That’s a big
gift coming from just a little sacrifice.
- Fix a “fun
bag” filled with a variety of things such as movie rental
tickets, a pizza ticket, a night out at McDonald’s coupon, a
skating pass, a movie pass, a bowling pass. You get the
idea. And, plan on enjoying some time together during the
year when your child cashes in on each item in his fun bag.
- Create a
special tradition and begin it the week of Christmas. Maybe
it is going out for breakfast on the last Saturday of every
month. Maybe it is spending time playing basketball or baking
cookies on a certain day of each month. You know your child,
so adapt the tradition to his or her liking. What better fun
than spending alone time with your child? Give your child a
“tradition coupon” and stick to it. These fun times spent
together are gifts that can never get outdated or will never
be taken away or forgotten.
I’ve tried
most of these holiday ideas, and I know that they work. Some of
my gifts have not been as elaborate as these, though. Taking 11
kids to a bookstore once a month was an impossibility, but I
sure did throw many neighborhood parties and made cherished
memories for all of us!
Make this
holiday season a time of joyful giving and living. Don’t get
caught in the stress trap and the financial net of debt. Relax
and give your children what they need most – you!
Clara Hinton
Professional Speaker, Workshop Leader, Author
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www.clarahinton.com
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