When I was little, we did not have much in the way of money. I realize it was a simpler time, but my mother would guide us to the things she could afford to buy us for Christmas and play them up ahead of time instead of us thinking we had to have everything we wanted. Of course, my sister and I loved gazing thru the Sears catalog and dreaming. When Christmas Day came, we forgot about all those things and always loved the few presents we got. Do not fall into the trap of thinking you have to give your children everything their friends are getting. Give them what you can reasonably afford without going into debt (which you will most likely live to regret!) and create fun holiday time in other ways by baking together, stringing popcorn for the tree, making construction paper chains, playing games, or sharing…