It’s hard not to go overboard on Christmas gifts, especially when there are so many cool new toys being advertised and sales everywhere. I was chatting yesterday with other moms and we discussed how to avoid blowing our holiday budget. Below are some of our ideas.
- Get involved with a local toy swap and recycle toys your children no longer play with. In exchange, you select gently used items for your kids. It’s very green and costs nothing!
- Select 3 gifts for your child (the wise men brought baby Jesus 3 gifts). This will help your children understand the true meaning of Christmas and help keep everything in perspective.
- Make a list and stick to it! Sure, it’s easy to throw something else into your cart because it’s on sale, but ask yourself “does my kid really need it?”.
- Use sites such as Google Shopping to locate the best prices online. Many stores offer free shipping!
- Talk to grandparents and other family members and share gift ideas. This can help prevent toy overload for your child.
- If buying large items, don’t be afraid to search Craigslist and/or eBay for gently used items.
- Instead of spending a fortune on Christmas gifts, use that money to take your family on a vacation. Disney is always a great place to build memories that will last a lifetime!
- Make gifts for your loved ones (not just your children). These gifts will be cherished! Memory videos, scrapbooks and albums are all wonderful choices.
What are some of your tips to avoid going overboard on Christmas?