my budget is always tight around this time of year. one thing a started a few years back when i knew i wouldn’t be able to give them much may help you. like yours, my kids get gifts from many others in the family. i talked to them about how lucky we are to have a home, food to eat, people you love us, etc….. and i asked them if they knew there were many others out there who didn’t have those things. we talked about what it might be like to be in that situation and how it is important at times to think about giving rather than getting especially during this time of year)

then i asked them the big question. would they be willing to give up presents (just from me and from santa – not from grandma) in order to give to children who may not get anything for the holiday. they said yes. we set a dollar amount (what i knew i could afford – i think it was 10 or 15 bucks each) and i took them shopping. they each picked out a gift to donate. i took them to a local fire station to drop off to Toys for Tots. and we made a donation to a local food bank. we’ve done it every year since. instead of buying gifts for each other we’ve agreed to make gifts for each other or simply write letters to one another explaining what we appreciate about them.

it would certainly be something they remember