Parents go crazy during this spending holiday. Buying gifts for babies, toddlers, kids, teens and adults. All who wait for this wonderful day. What for? To have their gifts never get played with or even opened, to cover in layers and layers of dust, to be lost in the attic? That doesn’t seem like a joyous holiday to me, spending hundreds of dollars to be left in the attic and rediscovered in ten years.

So, your kid wants a toy car to drive just like mommy for Christmas and you think it will be a good idea? Well, be ready to get out your backup credit card when you buy your child a $379.99 SUV or truck. Yeah three-hundred-eighty dollars, but your kid wants to be just like you so your heart melts and you buy it. Well, how often will your kid actually use the vehicle? Can’t use it in winter, not on actual roads, and only when an adult is around. How fun is that?

Now these days, kids are using electronics like tablets or phones for entertainment. Let me tell you something about kids; they see something ‘cool’ and expect to have it. Once another ‘cool’ thing rolls around, everything else will be forgotten.

Same with Christmas, they open that first gift and everything is magical. By the time that last gift is in their sights, ready to be ripped open all other gifts will be put off and lay in the back.

A new little miracle came into your life and you want to spoil this baby rotten. I get it; babies are a new gift of life and you can’t wait to see their face light up with joy and excitement. Okay, how about letting your baby understand what the gift is first.

Many parents these days are buying six month toys for their newborns and I don’t understand. Babies get amused easily by anything or anyone so why waste $130 or more on learning toys if they just stare at the toy? Babies don’t care about Christmas; they don’t even know what Christmas is, so spending hundreds of dollars is a mistake.

If your teenager goes to mall regularly with friends and asks you for money to spend on stuff they like, you may be confused about what your teen wants this Christmas, considering they like something new every day. Well parents, give gift cards or money as stocking stuffers so they can buy what they want instead of something that will never be worn or even looked at. Many clothes as gifts get put in the back of the closet if they don’t look ‘cool.’

Teens listen to music all the time so a CD by their favorite artist would be a nice idea for a gift. Something electronic, such as a phone or tablet would be appreciated greatly. Since you are not aware of what to get, go out and buy your teen’s favorite movie or television series.

It may seem like a hectic time to go out and shop but don’t stress about it. Letting your teen decide what they want shows them, you can trust them to be themselves and gives them responsibility.

When it comes to buying gifts for adults in the family, it can seem hard to buy for them. From experience, adults normally don’t open or use half of the things you buy. Last year I got my dad a set of NASCAR playing cards that are covered in dust and have never been used.

If you are looking for a good gift for your spouse, you don’t have to go all out and spend all the money in your wallet. Making time to go out and have a nice dinner and a movie will be thanked. So you are looking to go big or go home? Get ready for a whopping 70 million dollar ring made completely of diamonds. That’s not too much is it? Well, if you are willing to settle for something less, a necklace -not necessarily diamond- would look beautiful around your nasty mother-in-law’s neck.

Shopping for “the man of the house” can be a hassle if he hasn’t given you any hints about what he wants. Grill utensils or power tools are like diamonds to women so, if you are looking for a cheap but handy gift look no farther than a grilling barbecue sauce set. It’s ‘manly’ as he would say.

Don’t stress about Christmas this year as long as you do not buy gifts that will be put in the attic and rediscovered in ten years. For babies: a warm blanket. For kids: a ‘cool’ toy. For teens: a favorite movie or CD. Last but certainly not least, a nice necklace or power tool for the grown-ups.

Have a Merry Christmas everybody! Be sure to keep that backup credit card tucked nicely away in your wallet.