Guest Post - Basement Shopping for Toys

I am SOOOO excited for today's guest post. You may not know this but I try not to blog on Saturday because it's the Jewish Sabbath. I use this time to spend with the husband, the dogs, and my friends. Shabbat is sacred to me, even if I don't observe it in the way it's intended. In keeping with the theme of our month (no spending!!), today's guest post is PERFECT for anyone who is trying not to spend this holiday season. My new friend Clancy is on a mission. You can find her on Facebook and through her blog for more on loving used toys, visit The Love Used Toys Facebook fan page.

Basement Shopping for Toys: Save the Planet and Teach Valuable Lessons!
By Clancy Cash Harrison MS, RD, LDN

I don’t buy my children Christmas or birthday toys! I refuse to buy toys on any given day of the year and it is does not change with the Holidays. I have been told I am a mean mother and I am sure people think I am cheap. I like to think I am eco friendly with a powerful message.

I still provide my children with the items they need to grow into responsible well rounded people. In fact, I think my method teaches them respect, honor, pride, humility and kindness. I prefer to basement shop! How many people have unused, used, unwanted, good toys in their basement who actually just want to get rid of them?

This all started at a little girl’s birthday party. I watched a young girl tear through about 20 gifts without even looking at them. She was done within 10 minutes and did not open one card. To be honest, I thought it was rude, disrespectful, obnoxious, and unappreciative which I am sure represents the parents more than the child. You might think this is harsh of me but it is how I felt and I learned from it. I started to open my eyes and look around as I visited friends and family. Toys are everywhere and no one cares to play with them. In my opinion, toys are a novelty which wears off in a couple weeks. So why not rotate, share or give unused toys? Why do they have to be new?

This is what you gain from basement shopping:

• Less financial stress on the holiday
• Avoid the Holiday rush of shopping, crowds and traffic jams.
• Less face time with rude, stressed and rushed people. Let’s face it; the holidays bring out the worst in people!
• Santa does not have to stay up late assembling the toys, bike, play house, etc.
• You do not have packaging waste on the side of your street the week after the Holidays.
• You save room in the landfill helping sustain our planet for our children. In my opinion, there is no better gift than saving mother earth for our children and their children.
• Gain teaching moments for your children.

This teaches your children the following:

• Toys do not have to be new to enjoy them
• To respect mother earth
• To be kind and share
• The power of giving
• Organization skills
• Not to horde toys
• Respect gifts when they are given to them

I am a proud mother who basement shops! If I cannot find it in the basement, I visit the closes child’s consignment shop, or I log onto E-Bay. I encourage my family to do the same with their gifts to my children and if they absolutely need to buy them something, I request a savings bond! I hope this empowers you to help save our planet and teach our children important values. Remember consumerism does not equal happiness! Be a proud parent who basement shops or even start a mother’s group to toy swap!