Guest Author - Lili Pintea-Reed

Buy toys for your kids can be an expensive arduous process. The mass media and peer pressure promote many toys which are outrageously expensive. Many kids feel foolishly deprived if they can't tell their friends they got a "gagonza robot" , "mega barbie"or whatever new toy is being pushed off on kids this year. Here are some suggestions for dealing with this problem.

1) With older kids simply tell them that "times are tough" and get them to narrow their wish list. The mass media helps you in this with all the dire financial predictions plastered all over the TV and NET. Try and get them to pick one special pricey toy and get smaller items instead.

2) For much younger kids check out used toy shops, and goodwill type stores. Many toys for young learners are given away in near new condition. Quite frankly a three yer old will never know the difference and they can have toy "just like tv."

3) Check out salvage stores. They buy toys with dented or torn packaging with perfectly fine toys inside. Our Local salvage store "MR SALVAGE" had some $95.00 retail top of the line toys going for as low as $14.95 depending on the damage to the packaging. Simply remove the toy from the cracked plastic packaging with the directions and wrap!

4) IF you are in very bad financial circumstances apply to Toys for Tots and other local children's toy charities. You'll have toys for your kids holidays... Never fear...

5)Use Layaway. Place the item bought at sale price markdaown in holding at the store and pay some each week on it. Several major companies have re-instituted Lay Away Plans, including Kmart and Sears. Small locally owned stores often are happy to lay away products if you just ask.

6) Make it your self! Make scarves and hats, mittens, in team colors for a fraction of the "store stuff." If you can't knit there are knitting frames which are the grown up version of spool shaped cord makers from your childhood for non-knitters to make stuff. Called Knifty Knitter or some thing similar and very inexpensive. Click here for a link to type knitting looms.

7) Buy loss leaders. Keep a good eye on sales and buy the markdown items sold to lure you into the store. Use nerves of steel. Walk right past all the other stuff and only buy the sale item.

Make sure and have your kids participate in a toy charity. Every year when my son was growing up no matter how poor we were --we bought toy for charity -- often several. This reminds kids their are others out there with no toys. Donate to things like Operation Christmas Child or Toys for Tots. Kids will surprise you. They love picking out toys for others.

Have a great Holiday!