| The Holiday Season, traditionally a time for splurging | | | | Take girls to a bead shop or do scrap booking with |
| and generous gift giving, is likely to be a challenge for | | | | everyone involved in bringing the family history |
| many families this year as they struggle with the new | | | | together. Encourage grandparents and other family |
| economic realities of job loss , mortgage meltdown | | | | members to cut back and if they insist, have them |
| and overall financial insecurity. | | | | contribute to a family group gift. |
| Parents and children, inundated with enticing TV ads, | | | | 3. Focus on creating memories rather than buying gifts |
| promotions and glittering in-store displays, may need to | | | | that may be discarded as the new and better version |
| face the reality of a scaled-back Holiday Season, even | | | | comes along. Family traditions establish those long |
| though it can be hard to resist impulse purchases | | | | lasting, meaningful memories, so bake cookies together, |
| when it's meant to be the season for giving and | | | | play a special board game, sing favorite songs, tell |
| getting. | | | | funny stories, cook a funky meal, visit family. One very |
| But this year is different and it may be the ideal time to | | | | valuable way of teaching children the true meaning of |
| begin an alternative Holiday celebration, based more on | | | | service is to begin a tradition of volunteering at a local |
| making memories and centering on the reason for the | | | | shelter, singing at a nursing home, or making an annual |
| Season, and less on commercialism and unrestrained | | | | donation of toys and clothes you no longer use. |
| spending. | | | | 4. Resist competitive gift giving with an ex-spouse. |
| Following are some guidelines for celebrating in the | | | | Parents acting maturely around each other is the best |
| New Economy | | | | gift they could give their children who will notice and |
| 1. Set a budget and stick to it. Your budget should | | | | appreciate it. Set your own limits on spending with or |
| reflect existing debt and monthly financial obligations. | | | | without the cooperation of your ex-spouse. |
| Make a list of Holiday costs, including gifts, travel, extra | | | | For many children, money means the magical card that |
| food, entertainment, cards and stamps, and even gift | | | | comes out of mom's wallet or cash obediently |
| wrap. Gifts tend to be the biggest expense so check | | | | emerging from an ATM. Parents lead the way in |
| your list and consider no-cost gifts, such as car | | | | teaching kids respect for money and the importance |
| washing, baby sitting, mowing lawns, or shoveling snow. | | | | of budgeting, saving, and buying just what you can |
| Remember, it's a mistake to go deeper into debt when | | | | afford. It's never too early to teach children that money |
| there are low cost alternatives to enjoying the Season. | | | | does not grow on trees and there has to be money in |
| Make a hard copy of the budget and take it with you | | | | the bank before those credit cards and ATMs can be |
| when you go shopping to remind yourself how much | | | | used. |
| you have to spend as you resist compelling sales | | | | This Season may be the ideal opportunity to teach |
| pitches and pressure from starry-eyed children. For | | | | kids the object lessons around money. |
| additional help in creating a budget go to | | | | To read the conclusion of this article, please see the |
| 2. Think outside the box to come up with gift ideas | | | | link below. |
| within the budget. Consider homemade gifts or the gift | | | | Sheena Berg, a step parenting coach, writes for the |
| of time. Minimize individual gifts and consider a group | | | | FREE StepHeroes step parenting advice newsletter. |
| gift that the entire family can enjoy, such as a trip to | | | | Read the complete text of this new economy holiday |
| the movies, a camping trip, a subscription to Netflix, | | | | article. |
| local football team tickets, or a group activity such as | | | | WEBMASTERS: Use of this article requires links to |
| ice skating, local theater, or a car trip. | | | | remain in place. |