Welcome to the Holiday Hacks blog series where we quickly describe ways to get kids more involved in the spirit of Christmas and Hanukkah – for yes, less. Our second entry is a great free gift idea that young teens can give their mothers: A “coupon” to transform holiday cards into the contact photos on  a smartphone. Ask your 11-14 year old to take one afternoon before they head back to school in January and photograph all of the holiday cards you receive this year, saving the images as updated contact photos on your smartphone. You’ll have current pictures of all your family and friends at your fingertips, and a child who knows they have given you a truly meaningful gift, for free! As 11-14 year olds are the largest cohort of new smartphone owners, they are likely to be enthusiastic about this project. If you are wondering about best practices for new smartphone users, you can check out the Cell Phone blog-post from our “Stuff Kids Want”  series earlier in the year.

Gifting Sense is dedicated to helping parents teach their children to think before they buy (or ask someone else to buy on their behalf). Give your kids one of the best gifts ever this year: Financial Literacy. Learn how by clicking on the pink or green buttons below.