Dear Dr. Tightwad: Every year, I try to keep holiday gift-giving under control. But whenever I tell my kids that something is too expensive, they say it doesn't matter because Santa Claus can bring it and it won't cost a thing.
Can you suggest a snappy comeback?
Answer - It's time to level with your kids. Contrary to what they may believe, Santa's elves don't really make all those toys.
Sure, the elves can handle wooden trains, building blocks and stuffed animals. But when it comes to sophisticated electronic gizmos such as robots and video games, Santa has to buy them just like everyone else.
Of course, Santa buys toys direct from the factory and gets a volume discount. But it all adds up when you have to parcel out presents to children all over the world.
Aside from not being greedy, there is another reason why kids shouldn't expect to get everything they want: If there's a big demand for one item, even Santa can run short.
A Christmas wish list is just that - a list of things that kids would like but won't necessarily get. If parents and grandparents pitch in to give Santa a hand, cost really does matter.
Tell your kids not to expect Santa to go crazy getting gifts for your family. The jolly fat man in the red suit isn't about to risk incurring the wrath of parents and being forced into retirement by bringing toys that moms and dads don't want their children to have.
Judging by a few letters to Santa that Dr. T is privy to, kids shouldn't have any trouble understanding all this. One young boy led off his Christmas list by asking for "1. Super Nintendo, 2. Street Fighter II (if I get the above) . . ."
The boy's sister told Santa she'd like him to bring a jewelry-making kit with "lots of beads (but only if you can)."
Dear Dr. Tightwad: I have to confess that both I and my kids are careless about money. I keep forgetting to give them their allowance, and they keep forgetting to put their money away.
I'm always finding it lying around the house. Any tips on how to whip ourselves into shape?
Answer - Try a system of checks and balances. If you forget to give your kids their allowance, they can assess you a penalty - say 50 cents or $1, depending on how much they get - for every day you're late.
And if they forget to put their money away, you can make them pay the same penalty for every day it sits on the kitchen counter.