Do You Have A Gift Closet?

by Kay Green, www.MyPreciouskid.com
Copyright 2003-2005

Having 4 kids it seems like someone always needs a gift for a birthday party at the last moment. You know kids, they get ready to leave for school and say "Hey mom I need a gift for Jimmy's party this afternoon" UGH!!!

What do you do? Pull out cash out of your wallet to slip in a card. Or pick up your child after school and take them to the store to buy a gift. There a meltdown happens when your child can not understand why you will not buy that $50 item.

I have solved this issue in my house. We have a gift closet. I watch all the time for items to place in this closet. 

I pick up:

1. Clearance rack toys and gifts - SALE items
2. Free items or shipping only items online.
3. Barter my products for other WAHM products

I use the same techniques for baby shower gifts and house warming gifts. My closet has a little bit of everything. Nothing in there is over $10 so I keep to my budget. For a special persons gift I might choose several items from the closet and put them together in a basket.

My kids know they can go to the closet to choose a gift for their friend anytime. I save a ton of money this way! And less tears from my kids at the store. And I can buy when I have the money rather than a few days before payday when money is shorter.

Here are a couple places to find FREE and shipping only items:

More ARTICLES about business, parenting, adoption, homeschool and more by Kay Green!