WOW! Holidays are just around the corner… whew… and this time I can really embrace them for what they are. Family, friends, and great memories! I use to go on buying sprees and find the perfect gifts for my family and friends… $2,000 maybe $3,000 spent over the holidays (okay sometimes higher1!). My kids got way too much… after two hours of opening gifts, they just plain gave up! Now that is OVERSPENDING!…

Now we talk about what they really want… we go for quality and not quantity. Garret, my son…so brilliant, had a conversation with his grandma about presents. He told her what not to buy him and what he would prefer to get… and keep it minimal. I have seen the disappointment on the face of a child when they get tons of presents and most are things they can’t use or wear. My kids would rather get one thing that they really want and skip all the rest! They remember baking cookies with Auntie for the Bennett Centre and decorating gingerbread cookies with Nanny. Oh yes, the skidooing with cousins at Grandma’s house and playing Monopoly until 3:00 am in the morning… and making up spoof songs for fun. Really empowering to know that I can have such great Money Talks with my kids and they get it. They really want to help make a difference and save the spirit of the holidays by using our Saving Santa Plan.

Take time this holiday season… not to buy things but to take time to visit with family and friends, write a handwritten thank you… and acknowledge those you love. Maybe just tell them “I love you” with gratitude and give them a coupon for some time or for a service you can provide for them. That’s what really get’s me excited this year about the holidays…and guess what I have a budget that is really easy to stick to! Of course, with the help of the kids… now we just have to get Dad on the same page…we’re working on it. Create a saving santa plan for your family this year.