You know the feeling of excitement when you see all the things in all the aisles. Don’t get me started on end-caps and clearance racks! My recent discovery of a simple shopping rhyme to keep in mind for gifting will save my budget this year.
Hi, my name is Emily, and I have a shopping problem. No, seriously, I do. Whenever I say I’m running to Target to grab some diapers, my husband clears out the entire trunk of the car and prays to whatever higher being there is that I only grab diapers and nothing else. Because he knows I’m not coming back with just diapers. He knows I’m coming back with some plates made from recycled plastic and two bags of Doritos and three shirts for Rowan (because who doesn’t love Cat & Jack?!) and a new set of Sharpie pens and ten of those dollar section tiny glass mason jars. Oh, and the diapers (but probably four boxes of them because who can resist the “buy $100 worth of baby items and get a $5 Target gift card in return” deal?).
So when it comes time to buy gifts for holidays or birthdays, you already know I am doing dry runs at the house of swiping the Red Card. I don’t even go in with lists; I just go with the person in mind. However, this means lots of lost time and extra items in my cart that I don’t need to buy. If you’re like me, and you love to buy all the clothes that Cat & Jack produces and every single noise making toy ever invented (and then later regret that decision with your whole being), then I have a super helpful shopping rhyme to keep in mind as you’re getting ready to buy and give gifts:
Something you want
Something you need
Something to wear
Something to read
Something You Want
This can be any item, big or small, that your child has told you he or she wants. If your child is old enough to verbalize his or her wants, ask him or her. He wants that Doc McStuffins Toy Hospital Care Cart? Sure, get it. She wants that PJ Masks Rival Racers Track Playset? Sure, get it. Of course, you’re the adult; therefore, you set the spending limits. But, definitely take your child’s opinion into consideration.
Something You Need
You may need to identify the “need” item if your child is too young to really understand what “necessary” means. If Rowan could talk, he would probably tell me that he needs every single Mickey Mouse Clubhouse action figure and stuffed animal. Then, I would have to kindly decline that “need” in favor of something he truly needs. Moms in my trusty local mom group told me they usually buy educational items for this category, although other moms consider big ticket items such as coats, bedding, and bicycles as the “need” item.
Something to Wear
This category is pretty self-explanatory. Find some clothes your child needs and/or wants. It could be something super practical or a little fancier than their usual. I’d suggest buying them something they could wear in the immediate future, that way the gift is a little more exciting than just clothes.
Something to Read
Any book would suffice here –a picture book, a novel, a board book, a beginning-to-read book, a graphic novel, a comic, etc. As a reading teacher, I encourage my students to read any and everything. It doesn’t always have to be a traditional chapter book! Discover what reading material excites your child and buy it for them. Give them the gift of imagination and the opportunity to interact with print and explore new worlds as they expand their growing minds.
I recently tried the shopping rhyme out during a trip out for Christmas gifts. Lo and behold, the rhyme worked (even though it took every ounce of my being to not pick up every item on the shelf. Self-control will come later, I always tell myself).
Something you want
Something you need
Something to wear
Something to read
Hopefully, keeping in mind this simple shopping rhyme will help you or some frazzled parents or grandparents out there who always feel like they overspend or never spend enough.
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