Posted in Everything Else

I got an idea a few years ago from flylady.net about making coupons as a gift.  I have done this the last three years for Christmas for our kids and it is a gift that keeps on giving all year long!  I made them in a Word document on the computer, printed them out, cut them apart, and stapled them together at one end like a coupon booklet.  I'm going to list some of the coupons that I include...

• Going with Mom for ice cream
• Going with Dad for ice cream
• 30 minutes of computer games with no interruptions
• Plan a supper meal and help Mom cook
• Plan a game night for the family and everyone must cheerfully play
• Stay up late and play a game with Mom and Dad by yourself
• Have your own movie night with Mom and Dad
• Go spend the weekend with grandparents (at their convenience)
• Go spend three days with cousins (at everyone's convenience)
• Plan an evening out for you and Mom
• Sit down and play a game with Mom or Dad as soon as possible

On some of the coupons, I put that there must be a certain amount of advance notice given.  I also put an expiration date on each coupon.  Several of the coupons are in the booklet two or three times (computer, game night, ice cream).  I have learned to make my expiration date be around the middle of November; otherwise, they start trying to use all of their coupons up in December before they expire -- which makes for an even busier month in December! 

These coupons have been a great stocking stuffer in our family and they always look forward to getting them.  They are fairly easy to customize each year in the computer (after getting it done and saved the first year) so it doesn't take much time at all.  We have four kids and this helps us to spend individual time with them on a more regular basis.  

Some of the things we have done just this month as a result of these coupons....

• I have gone to get ice cream with our youngest son
• Two kids have planned and helped prepare supper
• Family game night
• Sat and played games twice (just the child and me)
• My husband and I stayed up late playing games with our youngest son

You could also give a coupon booklet for a birthday or other special occasion.  It's just easier for me to know that everyone has the same coupons and they all expire at the same time (less for me to keep up with mentally -- which is always a good thing)! 

If you have ideas for other coupons, please leave them in the comments . . . . . Thanks!