Children : Parties & Presents

• Start a present’s drawer so when your child suddenly tells you they are going to a party and need a gift you can get them to choose something from the present’s drawer without having to fly out and pay full price for something.
• If you have family that live interstate / overseas consider not sending gifts over to their children. Instead you could send the parent's some money / put some funds into their bank account and get them to buy the present for their child. That way you save a heap on postage and you know the child will get a present that they really want as their parent is buying it. You can post over a card and the parent can put your card on your present and the child will be none the wiser. 
• If you find you are spending a fortune on gift giving, talk to the recipients and see if you can work something out. Chances are they are in the same boat and are thinking the same way as you. It can all add up especially if you are buying for adults and kids even if you only spend $10 or $20 on each person. 
• Set an age limit where you stop buying presents for children. This might be at 16, 18 or even up to 21. If your family have this tradition, then the children will learn and understand this. 
• If you are short of money, ask your family / friends to give money to your children instead of presents. That way you can control what your children buy and ensure they are getting the essentials such as clothes first.

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