Making a List, Checking it Twice…
Each year, since my husband and I blended our families, we’ve set a solid budget each year for the kids. With four teens, you have to be strict when it comes to Christmas budgets, because they’ll end up going WAY over their limit in no time.
Every year, I find myself more pleased with just how much the kids have learned to shop around for the best deals. I’m so proud of the fact they could care less to get a game console that’s used, just so they can get more of what they want.
This year the kids spent hours searching the net to find the absolute best deals, calculated the totals and brought me their lists, complete with links to where I could find all the stuff they wanted.
On those lists, they mark things that are non negotiable – you know, the Holy Grail of Christmas morn? I usually try to accommodate them with their request and then I’m able to focus more on getting them fun things as a little surprise.
Typically, I will spend a small amount on them for their stockings and for small surprises under the tree. After all, it’s not that much fun to open gifts if you know what they all are! Right?
Over the next few days, I’m going to show you exactly what my kids were able to list and still remain within their $125 budget. I can’t tell you exactly where the gifts were found, because I bought most of them, but I can tell you that if you look hard enough, you can find some awesome deals.
It’s nice to know that I’m raising budget conscious, modest kids who don’t mind receiving gently worn items – especially video games and electronics. That really adds up!
Tags: Christmas list, kids shopping, holiday bargains, electronics, gadgets, game consoles, video games
