Working Class Parenting: Motivation, Education and Inspiration For Parents

I read a great article by Bridget Doyle  of the Chicago Tribune on parents dealing with their children's Christmas gift expectations. In the piece many different parents give their tips and ideas on how to deal with this problem. On idea jumped out at me. It was from Tina Peterson, mother of 3, she gets a short wish lists from her kids with four items: one want, one need, one wear, one read. In the article she says, "I heard about the strategy a long time ago and thought it was excellent, "If you give too much, expectations are too high. The best thing you can do as a parent is not spoil your kids." And thats what she gets them 4 things and done. For so many families budgets are tight right now, don't be afraid to keep it simple. I would also put a limit on what you can spend on each item and tell the kids what that number is so they know the budget and keep their expectations in check. So if you want to try this remember

So with Thanksgiving 2012 fading in the rear view mirror families need to turn their fiance attention back to the road before they get T-boned by the expenses of Christmas. Here are 5 great tips from Mary Hunt founder of the website  Debt Proof Living.com , with my comment after each tip. 1- Shape your attitude- Your budget is your budget even at Christmas. Before heading into the mall, make sure you take your emotions out of your wallet. 2-Use Cash- Speaking of your wallet, the green stuff behind the cards, is called cash. Use that when you can, and when it's gone no matter who is left on your list, you are done that day. Leave the mall, and don't pass the pretzel place, the smell is too tempting. 3- Give gifts from your kitchen or garden - I love to eat but I can't cook it or grow it. If you can do either well, that's a gift. Plate it, put a bow on it, a tasty Christmas gift, done. 4- Give family gifts, rather than individual ones - If you have the family fr...