How To Be a Generous Grandparent Without Going Overbudget
It is great to have grandchildren, whether it’s one or, as my parents had, thirty-one. Together, my wife and I have eighteen of our own. While we love them and value their presence in our lives, a question we often ask is: How will we survive birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations without going overbudget? Over the years, we’ve come up with some creative ways to remain generous with our time and money, while at the same time, reducing the overall costs of these events in our lives.
The Gift of Memories
Buying your grandchild the latest toy or gadget will make you a popular grandparent in the short term, but as fads change and technology evolves, your briefly treasured gift could soon be forgotten. This is not the case when you gift your grandchild with an experience that they will remember for their whole lives.
If you live close to a national or provincial park, investigate buying an annual family pass. You can then take them to the park and hike, picnic, or do other inexpensive activities that will leave them with fond memories of time spent with their grandparents.
But even if you live far from nature preserves, you can do activities around the house: Go for bike rides, go fishing, or take painting lessons together. If you make it special, it will be.
Share Your Knowledge
Most grandkids won’t be that interested in hearing their grandparents talk about “the old days.” But, as they get older, they’ll be grateful to have the knowledge you passed on to them. And there are many ways you can do this besides sitting them down to listen to a story. My best advice is to give them a chance to be an active participant in the sharing.
What are your hobbies or skills that they could participate in? It could be gardening, knitting, sewing, or just about anything else. Any activity where they can walk away with a product of their efforts will be well-appreciated.
You could also turn a story into a trip. Take them to the area where you grew up and allow them to make their own memories to associate with yours. You can visit different areas such as your school, museums, restaurants, or just go for a drive in the country.
Another area would be family history. Help them understand where they fit into the family tree. Teach them how to find ancestors, write a biography, have them help with your biography and look for pictures to include. They’ll be glad to have it when they get older.
Do What Feels Special to Them
You can never tell what will make for a special memory for kids. Something that seems mundane to you might leave a big impression on them. Try asking how they want to spend the day with you and go along with their plans as best as you are able.
Another way to make them feel special is to go to their sporting or fine arts activities, like games or performances. My granddaughter was playing basketball in provincials in Strathmore, and when she saw me in the bleachers, her face lit up. Since that time, we have been able to connect on a deeper level.
Two of my grandkids just love when I show up with a box of Timbits!
One tradition my mother started was to give her grandchildren cash for birthdays and Christmas. She gave them an amount equivalent to their age, so they were excited to get an increase each year until they turned 21. We decided to follow her example and our grandchildren love it!
Remember the importance of enjoying and loving your grandchildren and making them feel important and loved. I think the sky is the limit as to which activities you do with your grandchild without breaking the bank.
Craig Whitehead
Craig Whitehead taught grades 1 to 12 over twenty-four years in the Livingstone Range School District. Golf, travel, and his grandchildren occupy much of his time.