MONEY MATTERS
"Have them gift one of their toys or possessions to another child
in the family."
3. Think of ways to boost your spending power. One method is turning to the spare change you've stashed away in a coin jar, in vehicles and around your home. It's easy to take your change to one of about 20,000 Coinstar kiosks located at grocery stores throughout the country. For many, that's found money that can be converted into cash or transformed (at no fee) into e-gift cards from popular vendors such as Amazon, Best Buy, Sephora, Lowe's and Starbucks.
4. Draw names and set gift spending limits for family gift exchanges. As families grow through marriage or children added to the brood, it's easy to allow spending and gift giving to get out of control. White elephant exchanges can be great for the kids in the family. Have them gift one of their toys or possessions to another child in the family. That will not only be softer on the wallet, but will teach them the power of gifting and reusing.
5. Consider gifts big on thoughtfulness and small in cost. Perhaps a handcrafted work of art, homemade baked goods or a meaningful service such as childcare
would mean more to some recipients than a store-bought knickknack, electronic gadget or sweater.
Finally, don't be too hard on yourself if you go over budget despite your best efforts. You can always make up for it by cutting expenses outside the holiday season when you may face less temptation and pressure to buy.
For more information on how Coinstar works, visit www.coinstar.com.