Showing posts with label gift giving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gift giving. Show all posts
Thoughts on Future Gift Buying for My Children
From birthdays to family holidays, children will expect to receive something during these special moments of the year. The earlier you start planning, the better! What parent hasn't been caught between an upcoming birthday and a household bill? If you learned anything from this past holiday season it most likely was "Next year I need to do something different." Then before you know it, next year is already here!
I recently discovered just how fast time has flown with one older child in his late tweens (lol) and now another older child who will become a teenager this year--their development has been simply amazing! One child is 5' 4" and he's just 11. (Meanwhile, the five-year-old and the four-year-old, at times, seem to be regressing especially when they have their share of tantrums.)
One day, while shopping, a fellow mom in the toy aisle suggested I get a video game or gift card for my older children after I asked her son had he heard what all the kids have been wanting lately since I was going to surprise the older ones with a few toys. But his mom interrupted, "They just aren't into toys that age." My tween still seems to be into the imaginative play toys such as action figures like wrestler men and toy soldiers who come with play sets. However, the soon-to-be teen, well, I guess not so much. The mom and her son saved me some money that day.
Nearing the end of last year, I realized that mixed in with the gift card and popular video games I bought my children, should be some educational videos, spiritual teachings, and something to help with extracurricular activities. So I bought a little bit of everything I thought would appeal to their interests. I wanted my children to start the New Year off to a good start mentally, physically and spiritually.
In the past we have had fun times shopping together, but I decided that yet again, I will be doing something different this year. Rather than buy most of the children's gifts nearing the holiday season, I think it would be better to give them a gift or two each month--you know, spread out the gift-giving thoughout the year and give less gifts by the end of the year. This way it encourages them to keep doing their best throughout the year and not just because a birthday, Christmas or our traditional Happy New Year celebration is right around the corner (we don't gift exchange on Christmas.) Besides, I think starting the New Year off paying debt is really getting old (sigh.)
Nicholl McGuire
I recently discovered just how fast time has flown with one older child in his late tweens (lol) and now another older child who will become a teenager this year--their development has been simply amazing! One child is 5' 4" and he's just 11. (Meanwhile, the five-year-old and the four-year-old, at times, seem to be regressing especially when they have their share of tantrums.)
One day, while shopping, a fellow mom in the toy aisle suggested I get a video game or gift card for my older children after I asked her son had he heard what all the kids have been wanting lately since I was going to surprise the older ones with a few toys. But his mom interrupted, "They just aren't into toys that age." My tween still seems to be into the imaginative play toys such as action figures like wrestler men and toy soldiers who come with play sets. However, the soon-to-be teen, well, I guess not so much. The mom and her son saved me some money that day.
Nearing the end of last year, I realized that mixed in with the gift card and popular video games I bought my children, should be some educational videos, spiritual teachings, and something to help with extracurricular activities. So I bought a little bit of everything I thought would appeal to their interests. I wanted my children to start the New Year off to a good start mentally, physically and spiritually.
In the past we have had fun times shopping together, but I decided that yet again, I will be doing something different this year. Rather than buy most of the children's gifts nearing the holiday season, I think it would be better to give them a gift or two each month--you know, spread out the gift-giving thoughout the year and give less gifts by the end of the year. This way it encourages them to keep doing their best throughout the year and not just because a birthday, Christmas or our traditional Happy New Year celebration is right around the corner (we don't gift exchange on Christmas.) Besides, I think starting the New Year off paying debt is really getting old (sigh.)
Nicholl McGuire
Now that the Children Got Almost Everything...
So they got almost everything that they wanted and now you are faced with a bill you would rather not face. Never fear the Internet is here to help you get back on track and prepare for the next Christmas season.
First things first, total all the bills you now owe.
Second, take the smaller bill and pay that off first while paying about $10-$20 above the minimum of your other bills.
Third, create a plan on how much you are able to pay toward your next highest bill once the other is paid off as well as how long you think it will take to pay it off.
Fourth, don't accrue anymore debt. If you don't have the cash to pay for it, don't do it!
Fifth, birthdays will have to come and go. So what that someone thought of you and the family and bought you something nice! Listen if you could do it, you would, but you can't so you won't. If you allow yourself to feel obligated to pay someone back, then you are adding unnecessary stress to your already hectic life.
Sixth, if it isn't on sale, don't bother.
Seventh, observe your lifestyle. What could you absolutely live without? Then sell it, get rid of it, or reduce it. Examine how your children live and do the same for them, sell it, get rid of it, or reduce it.
Hope these simple tips help get you on your way to reducing your debt and spending this year!
For more artciles by Nicholl McGuire, visit www.associatedcontent.com/nichollmcguire
First things first, total all the bills you now owe.
Second, take the smaller bill and pay that off first while paying about $10-$20 above the minimum of your other bills.
Third, create a plan on how much you are able to pay toward your next highest bill once the other is paid off as well as how long you think it will take to pay it off.
Fourth, don't accrue anymore debt. If you don't have the cash to pay for it, don't do it!
Fifth, birthdays will have to come and go. So what that someone thought of you and the family and bought you something nice! Listen if you could do it, you would, but you can't so you won't. If you allow yourself to feel obligated to pay someone back, then you are adding unnecessary stress to your already hectic life.
Sixth, if it isn't on sale, don't bother.
Seventh, observe your lifestyle. What could you absolutely live without? Then sell it, get rid of it, or reduce it. Examine how your children live and do the same for them, sell it, get rid of it, or reduce it.
Hope these simple tips help get you on your way to reducing your debt and spending this year!
For more artciles by Nicholl McGuire, visit www.associatedcontent.com/nichollmcguire
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