The holiday season is always a challenging time for me when it comes to purchasing gifts for my children to place under the Christmas tree. It’s an ongoing internal struggle between my heart and my brain. On one hand, my brain tells me to stop spending money on items that my children will likely lose interest in after a short time. On the other hand, my heart reminds me that they are only little for so long, and this is a magical time in their childhood that I want to cherish by creating lasting memories—including the joy of waking up to a room filled with colorful, shiny, wrapped gifts.
The excitement on their faces when they see the tree surrounded by presents makes my heart swell with happiness. It fills me with so much joy to see their wonder and delight. However, I don’t want my children to associate Christmas solely with receiving materialistic items. I want them to understand that Christmas is about more than just the gifts under the tree. It’s about the traditions we share, the time we spend together as a family, and the memories we create.
This year, I decided to approach gift-giving differently. I chose to focus on things that my children would actually use and appreciate. For my younger kids, aged 11, 7, and 2, I included practical items like clothes and gloves, even though they already had some of these items. I knew they would be useful during the season, so I wrapped them up for them to open. I also included one toy each, a book for each child, a couple of board games for the family, and a homemade coupon book filled with experiences.
The coupon book turned out to be a hit! It included options like an “Ice Cream Date with Toppings,” “30 Minutes of Extra Screen Time,” and one of their favorites, “Stay Up 1 Hour Later Than Your Bedtime.” Each coupon was valid for a one-time use, which meant the kids had to think carefully about when and why they wanted to redeem them. This made the coupons feel special and stretched the excitement of Christmas beyond December 25th. They now have experiences to look forward to throughout the year, making the holiday season feel more meaningful and lasting.
Why are coupon books great gift ideas?
- They can be created at the last minute.
Whether you are in need of a quick stocking stuffer idea, or don’t have time to run to the store to buy a gift, these coupon books can be hand written (or printed) and ready to go in a matter of minutes. - They are thoughtful and personal.
Since you have the ability to fill out each page of the book with your own experiences, you can customize the gift to fit the recipient very well! Let’s say you just had a baby and your older child has been feeling a little jealous. You could make a coupon (or a few!) that are redeemable for one whole day of one on one time with mom or dad. The coupon books can easily be customized to include anything that you think your child would love. - They make non-toy gifts.
If you have any children I’m sure you understand my struggle with having too many toys in every corner, under every bed and in every closet. I can imagine that there are tons of parents out there who don’t necessarily want to add a ton of new toys to their house this Christmas either. This coupon book makes a great non-toy gift that will make your child feel super special. I’ve always thought experience gifts made the best presents anyway! - Stick to a budget.
Christmastime is expensive! With so many people to buy presents for, it can be really hard to stick to a budget. Giving friends and family members a coupon book is a great way to gift something thoughtful and personal, while not breaking the bank!
I’m curious to know—what kind of gifts did you choose for your kids this Christmas? Do you set a budget for your holiday shopping or allocate a specific amount per child? Additionally, what fun Christmas traditions do you and your family participate in every year to make the season special? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below—I would love to hear from you!
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