Last year we started a new gift giving idea at our house … COUPONS! Why not? And I can say that after a year of using them it has worked out great. I am fine tuning some things this year but the basic idea is this … spread out the fun for the whole year! Each of my children get twelve little coupon books, one book for each month of the year. Last year I printed and cut and stapled … this year I have designed them in business card size for easier printing. I also picked up a recipe box for all the kids to keep them in, so they will no get lost!

Each month, each child gets a fun booklet of coupons that have things like: “Get out of chicken duty” because no matter how much yo love the chickens there is always that one day when it is your turn and you just do not feel like doing it! The deal with coupons is they are guilt free, no matter what is going on mom and dad pick up the slack because it is a gift to you! Here is a sample:

Some other coupons that we did last year were:

• No Dishes Tonight!
• 1/2 hour of computer or Wii time!
• A Board/card Game with mom or dad!
• $5 shopping spree!
• A hug!

Some new ideas for this year are:

• A pack of gum!
• A Sonic Treat!
• A trip to the park!
• I’m a helper card – this was added for me, to encourage the kids to help each other out at least once per month!

Then each month there is a family card that has something bigger that we do as a family:

• A trip to the movie theater
• A trip to the ice cream parlor
• A trip to the zoo
• Lets go roller skating
• A picnic in the mountains
• Lets go to the Aquarium
• A trip to the Science Museum
• We are going to watch a baseball game
• Watch a movie night

And on the month of your birthday there is a special cards:

• A new video game
• A Webkinz
• A $25. shopping spree

My kids really enjoyed these! And for me it was great … a little organizing and budgeting throughout the year and happy kids all year long. Last year I only did coupons for the three older kids and this year Rick will get them too … he frequently asks if he has a coupon to use.

This year as we celebrate the Twelve Days of Yule we will be giving the kids one book each night, great that there are twelve months in the year too! It just all works out! YEAH! I am kind of hoping to get my own coupon book one of these years.

Coupons for Mommy:

• No diaper changing day!
• I’ll Vacuum for you!
• Oh, let me cook dinner for tonight!
• 10 second tidy.
• A get out of laundry!

I am always looking for new coupon ideas (and I have not printed yet), so please share your ideas!!! And if you decide to make your own coupon books please tell us all about them!