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The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter
Feature Article - Do Your Kids Need So Much Stuff?
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Guest Article - Frugal and Creative : Last minute, easy Ideas for Christmas
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Hooray! Grandpa's doing much better. They took the tube out finally, which doesn't make him out of the woods, but it's a big, big step.
On the more frustrating side, we're having to wait to move until just after Christmas now. The current tenants in our apartment had some sort of problem and are essentially squatting. Now, since it takes 30+ days to get someone evicted and they say they're leaving it December 19, there's nothing for the apartment manager to do. Very frustrating for us, since we had hoped to move before my sister's wedding and have Christmas in our own apartment. Now we'll be packing things up immediately after Christmas, because we are hoping to move a day or two after. I really hate rushing the holiday, but what else can we do?
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It’s expensive raising a family. It gets worse if your children’s friends have more things than you can get for your children, as they get jealous. Computers, video game systems, the list goes on and kids of all ages start begging for more.
Of course, not every family can afford to have the same things. It’s a hard lesson for children, but one well worth teaching.
The first thing you need to do with your children about spending money on more things is simply be honest about why you will not. It may be that you don’t have the money or it may be that you don’t feel they need to have that particular item. Tell them why you aren’t buying it. They won’t enjoy hearing it, especially if you say it’s because you don’t think they need it, but it’s the truth.
For example, it seems to be increasingly common for children to have a computer in their own room. Do they really need it? My husband and I do not intend to let our kids have computers in their room. Now, our daughter is currently 2 years old, and our son will be born in a few months, so this is yet academic for us, but our feeling is that the computer, especially if hooked up to the internet, should not be someplace as private as a child’s room. Same goes for televisions. We plan on setting aside an office or even just a desk for the computer, someplace where computer usage can easily be monitored.
Do not go into debt trying to please your child’s wants. When they grow up, they may appreciate that they have learned to put off wants in favor of needs. How many of you had friends in college who were always barely able to buy food or pay rent because they just had to have the latest gadget or needed to party with their friends? Do you think you can build good financial habits in your children by overspending?
If your child really wants something, why not make them save the money for it themselves? This is harder on children who are too young to earn more than a small allowance but good practice in any case.
Of course, if your child wants a computer and manages to save enough to buy their own, you do not have to feel obligated to let them have it in their own room, although such rules should be made clear when you tell your child to save for it. If you don’t want them to have something, that may have to suffice as the reason.
It’s not easy keeping children from being excessively materialistic, but it’s a great thing to teach them. Suggest that they give old toys to charity or even make a practice of it when they get a new one. We do not have to raise materialistic consumers just because that’s the easy way to go.
Stephanie Foster is the owner of Home with the Kids, a resource that knows that there's more to staying home with your family than just business. For more stay at home tips, visit the site at http://www.homewiththekids.com/ and subscribe to the free newsletter.
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Nothing says I care like a homemade gift, if you think you don't have time think again. There are tons of Ideas you can use, that take little time, and are easy and inexpensive. Making treat plates, is an old standbye in my house, but family and friends need a surprise from time too. Dollar stores are great places to buy extra's to go with your gifts. Baskets, silk flowers, ribbons, and containers. You can also purchase art supplies, for an inexpensive art kit, and they are always a great place for stocking stuffers.
Here are some great ideas, for a mix of both ideas, for a quick easy, and frugal Christmas. Follow the links for the Recipes.
Spice Mixes --Save your spice bottles thru the year, or raid the second hand store, for small spice bottles. Find your own spice mixes or look here mix them up and put them in bottles. Make them as a collection or as part of a themed basket. http://www.frugal-families.com/Recipes/spice_mixes/Spices_mixes_for_gifts.htm You can also use this idea with flavored vinegars too. For cheap plastic bottles, glue a bit of wrapping paper, or decorative foil, add a label and you have quick Gifts.
Hot cocoa mix-- mix up a cocoa mix, add a couple of spoons dipped in chocolate, and rolled in crushed peppermint. Stuff into a dollar store coffee mug. Make a cloth gift bag, and you have an elegant gift. http://www.frugal-families.com/Recipes/Holidays/gift_mixes/homemade_hot_cocoa_mix.htm
Coffee Tray --- Purchase a cheap wicker tray from the dollar store, and a couple of coffee cups. Add coffee mixes and chocolate spoons, and you have an elegant coffee tray. http://www.frugal-families.com/Recipes/Holidays/gift_mixes/coffee_mixes.htm
Movies ---Tape someones favorite Tv shows, give them a collection of tapes for Christmas, this works especially well for the kids in your family, as they will watch them over and over again.
Busy Cooks Basket - search for mixes for Brownies Cookies, sauces, Hot drinks, and more. Gift for the busy friend on your gift list.
Give of your Yourself Coupons--- Backrubs, and Candle lit dinners, for your hunny. Chores, Babysitting, and a trip to the mall for a friend. Game time, Movie nights, park trips for the kids.
Calendars, and greeting cards ---- have a digital Calendar and printer? How about Calendars for the Grandparents, filled with pics of their Grandkids .
Custom T-shirts--For all ages, how about some computer iron on transfer paper, and tshirts. You can find this paper in the dollars often for reduced, and buy a 3$ tshirt, and you have a super cheap and custom gift. Find graphics off the internet, or make your own.
Freebie Gifts, and Recycling too!! ---Subscribe to your local freecycle group, they are always giving things away, and you might find the perfect gift there. Find your local Freecycle group at http://www.freecycle.org
Memory book--Buy a cheap photo album at the dollar store, decorate it, and add pictures and stories, specific to the person you are giving it to. For kids, happy memories of their childhood. For parents, things your remember and love best about them, or a yearly log of their Grandkids growth and development. Great for long distance relatives.
Busy Moms Pamper Basket---Make some bubble bath, bath salts,a smelly candle, record some soft music on Cd. Add Some oils and lotions ( freebies or trials work great for this. Tuck them in a basket, along with a babysitting coupon.
Pinecone firestarters-collect pine cones, dip them in wax from old melted candles. helps fires get off to a quick start.
Stationary sets--Find Stationary on the internet to print off, or create stationary on your computer and print off, add some envelopes and pretty pen.
Homemade Christmas Ornaments---Christmas ornaments made from salt or cinnamon dough, and painted make beautiful gifts, and are something kids can help with. Make them freehand, or use cookie cutters. The cinnamon dough is fragrant.
http://www.frugal-families.com/holidays/Christmas/cinnamon_dough_for_christmas_ornaments.htm
http://www.frugal-families.com/holidays/Christmas/salt_dough_for_christmas_ornaments.htm
Cooks Basket---Find cook books at the second hand stores, add some ingredients, and make a cooking basket
Custom Cookbook--Make a cook book if you know what a person likes to eat, or what their cooking style is, why not print off recipes off the internet, and make a cookbook, tailored to that person. This works really great for young kids just out on their own. Give them their favorite mom recipes, and a few easy to cooks, as well as a couple of how to's. this can be a simple and basic, or as elegant as you want to make it.
Jams and Jellies--Whip up a batch of homemade jam, add a piece of Christmas fabric, cut with decorative scissors
Create your own chicken soup book--Find stories,quotes, poems and other snippets of wisdom, tailor it to your recipient. Add a nice photo album or note book.
Christmas Garland--- Make a unique Christmas Garland, of pinecones strung together. Have your kids help you decorate them with Glitter, and different pretties.
Get organized notebook--the internet is full of printable, print up some calendars, some to do lists, inventory lists etc. Add them into a notebook, and give them to your favorite "Mom"
For kids
Coloring books--- Print off coloring pages,and worksheets off the internet, punch holes, make into a book or put in a cheap folder. Decorate the folder, add a package of crayons or felt markers from the dollar store. http://www.frugal-families.com/colorpages/colorpagesmain.htm
Word finds and Mazes -- For older kids, word finds, and mazes can be found or you can find places to generate ones you make. http://www.frugal-families.com/wordfind.php
Playdough Basket--Make play dough in different colors, find some cookie cutters and rolling pins in the second hand store, for a great playdough kit. http://www.frugal-families.com/kids_corner/educational/kids_corner.htm
Kids Coupons--Print off coupons for special priveledges that they can redeem. Movie nights, ice cream parties, trips to the park. http://www.frugal-families.com/printables/kidscoupons.htm
Book Basket--Go to the second hand book store, and buy books, put them in a basket along with some hot cocoa mix, and a promise to read stories with them every night.
Homemade Music Cds--Record kids songs on a cd for the music lover in your family
Doll Accessories ---If you know how to sew or crochet, use your talents and your scraps to make doll furniture, rugs, and curtains, for your childs doll house. Clothes, sleeping bags, mini tents, also are popular.
Hair ties--Purchase a 1$ package of elastic, and use fabric scraps to make hair ties for your little princess. If you have any spare silk flowers, you can sew these on for a really elegant look.
Fancy Socks--Sew ruffles or beads on plain socks for pretties, they wont be able to resist.
Soft blocks -For Babies can be made from scrap Fabrics and fiber fill.
Art kit -- Go to the dollar store, purchase an tackle box and fill with pens, crayons, pencils, glue, for a great art set, and a small price.
Creative packaging
Tin Can Treat Containers -- Take tin cans,wash and make sure there are no sharp edges. Paint, sprinkle with glitter, where ever your creativity takes you. Stuff them with mixes, or homemade goodies. Add a bow, and you have an elegant gift.
Paper Mache "Baskets"--Make and decorate bowls from paper mache. use these to package your gift basket items,instead of wicker baskets.
Fabric Wrapping paper and bags--Use scrap Fabric for wrapping paper , ribbon and bows,sew fabric into bags.
Paint your own wrapping paper ---Decorate butcher paper with sponges and paint.
Your own paper gift bags ---Paint paper bags, decorate with sponges, and make handles from twine, paper or ribbons.
Patty Getz is editor and owner, of
http://www.frugal-families.com
http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com
http://www.frugalcooking.com
And a stay at home mom, who is dedicated to Frugal living, and heirloom knowledge, and the preservation of this important knowledge. In her spare time she loves to write, and build websites. She can be reached at Chefmom@frugal-families.com for more information.
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