It’s that time of year again. The holidays are done and the New Year’s headache is cured. Or is it?  Now we wait for the end-of-the-year bills to arrive.

If you did not overspend, let your kids share in the victory.

Talk as a family about how you stayed within your budget.  Did you make a list of all those you wanted to remember and take that list with you to the mall each and every time you shopped?  Did you place a dollar amount next to the name and make sure you did not exceed that amount?  Did you discuss what you had to “give” to gift-giving before you went out and shopped?  Did you come up with ideas that would replace a purchased gift – like baking or a gift of time or a talent?

Leverage  your “purchase fatigue”  and your family’s contentment as you think about next year.  Continue reading