Thursday, March 18, 2010

Thrifty Thursday....The Birthday Box second attempt






If anyone just got an unedited post about a birthday box, please ignore.
I just learned control p is not uppercase P. It posted before I was able to complete my very important thoughts and add my visuals.



When I am going over my yearly expenses, I have a category on Microsoft Money called gifts given. If you are reading this and you have never received a gift from me, please do not get disappointed or feel left out. If I have never given you a gift, it is a milestone.

A high compliment.

A mark of maturity.

A token of LOVE.

I love you so much that I do not wish to clutter up your lovely home with anything.

Where was I? oh yeah the BIRTHDAY BOX.

The reason I call you gift-less loved ones mature is because in my birthday box the gifts are for kids between the ages of 5 and 14.

With 3 boys at home, the chances of one of them being invited to a birthday party, is about 50% each week.
Now a real tightwad would just decline an invitation.

But come on... everyone loves a party. There is something about parties that can throw the majority of us into reckless abandon. All of a sudden, everything we ever believed about thrift and our personal budget becomes a fog.

We don't have to fall into that trap. I have enough times already learned my lesson.

Foggy, painful memories are returning. I remember me on a Saturday with 1 hour until a party racing to K-mart, ToysrUs, or the mall to spend more than I want on a gift for a child that I didn't even give birth to. And because I left my house in the boonies, I need the card and the wrapping, a.k.a. another 4 bucks. And the toy was probably something the kid will forget about in a few hours.

Here's where the Birthday Box saves the day. Classical music playing in the background. Last week's party invitation was received. I calmly walk up the stairs, entered my bedroom and retrieved the Birthday Box which is hidden in a strategic spot in my closet. Oh how convenient, it is a pirate themed party. Look! I have picked up a few pirate toys on clearance after Christmas. There is a small Playmobile set and a Dover sticker set. Pat myself on the back.

Because I happen to live near a Christmas Tree Shop, I already own the cheeriest birthday wrapping paper that I got for a buck and it lasts eternally. For those of you who do not live within 10 miles of a Christmas tree shop, my condolences. That was aggressive thrift. I refused the cute kid who was selling wrapping paper for a school fundraiser. I just saved 12 dollars. It wasn't easy. I am a softie for a cute kid.





The Birthday Box is something that is an ongoing project. There are key times to replenish this best friend. The best times are post Christmas, post Easter and in between season changes. Stores are blowing out their goods for the next major holiday. I like to go to Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, Christmas Tree Shops and K mart. I have found the best deals there. For my own children, I am not above going to a thrift shop.

Now, I must bring up something that is not pretty. Some people refuse to talk about this. But it must be said. It is a practice that I have not been able to undertake, because of the way my children adore the gifts they get. It has not worked for me. It is the practice of
regifting.

No, this is not Biblical doctrine. This is TerriG's personal opinion. I do believe the word of God is our ultimate authority on all matters. I have not been convicted in the Word of God about this. However;

There is the verse in the
King James Bible :

  • "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;"
If you would enjoy passing that gift on to someone else, please don't burden yourself with unnecessary guilt. Keeping duplicates, unwanted things or over abundance can be enough burden.
In Acts 20:35 it says:

  • "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."

A hindrance to regifting is the manner in which children tear open presents. It can make this impossible. If your birthday parties are marked by civility, this could be an option. One thing a regifter must do is keep meticulous records, to save any embarrassment that can occur. Use your imagination.

Back to my best buddy, the Birthday Box. This box has rescued me on many a Christmas Eve as I realize one child's stocking is not as full as another. Stockings are a serious matter with me. I absolutely love to fill them. It's my favorite thing. I will definitely post more on this.


In the meantime, enjoy the party.

Thanks for stopping by,
TerriG

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The birthday box is a great idea. Thanks for sharing the verses.

Pastor Silas said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.