How to Save on Holiday Gifts

We decided that instead of giving special gifts, which can cost $100 per child, we are going to give each of our three children a gift of our time. We are going to pick out a special outing just for them, and we are calling them Mommy/Daddy dates. Our oldest is a 7-year-old ballet student. For her, we are getting tickets to the local professional ballet company's spring ballet. Our middle daughter has never been to the Build-a-Bear Workshop, so for her we are giving a gift certificate to the store and the excitement of a special shopping trip with Mom and Dad. Our youngest daughter loves Chuck E. Cheese. For her, we are giving tokens [to play games at the restaurant] and a day just for her. We estimate we'll spend $120 on their gifts versus $300 as we did in the past.

— Dana of Holland Patent, New York