By Shauna Scott Rhone
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A lot of parents facing tougher economic times this holiday season have a related issue to address: Reining in their children who want to buy presents for friends.

It's harder than it sounds, says Dan Cook, a professor of advertising at the University of Illinois.

"If some families have been in relative prosperity," he says, "this might be the first taste of a scarcity of funds. You don't have to let (your children) in on every little part of your personal finance, but this is a good time to say, `We don't have as much to work with.' "

Last year, 18-year-old Jenny Lemmon of Milford bought presents for all her friends. But mom Chris says, "Although she bought everything on sale, it still was not necessary. She worked two jobs last summer and is working part-time now. I wish these teens would realize ... it's far more fulfilling to go shopping for a toy for a child who really appreciates it."

Chris Lemmon, a member of the Enquirer parents panel, was among several members who shared some of their strategies for dealing with this issue.

Twelve-year-old Mackenzie Klein of Kenwood "always buys gifts for a few of her friends," says her mom, Chris. "She uses her own money she earned from baby-sitting or allowance. I think it's perfectly appropriate to do so. My theory is, it's her money, and if she wants to spend some of it to wish her friends a happy holiday, that's great."

According to a biannual survey conducted by Jeff Klinefelter, a U.S. Bancorp retail analyst, teens are getting a double hit in their pocketbooks this year, making gift purchases more difficult.

"Teens seem to be feeling the brunt of the economic downturn," says the Minneapolis-based Mr. Klinefelter. "Fewer teens have after-school jobs, and they are receiving less money from their parents toward purchases."

Cathy Doyle's 15-year-old daughter, Alexandra, has about eight friends she'd like to buy presents for. The Greenhills mother says they've bought lots of gifts in the past, "but have tried to keep the costs down: picture frames, earrings, etc. They all exchange gifts; it is not one-sided.

"My son (Jay, 17) doesn't do the gift exchange," says Mrs. Doyle. "I guess it's a girl thing."

Maybe not, says Debi Hertel of Reading.

"Last year, my son Justin, 20, bought gifts for his friends and was laid off at the time . . . drove me nuts. Todd, who's 18, always wants to get his friends gifts but never has the money, and he is not working at the moment.

"We will not let them touch their savings accounts for Christmas presents . . . no way . . . that's for college, insurance, car repairs, etc."

Sherry Steinbeck of Anderson Township says daughters Sara, 14, and 12-year-old Lindsey want to buy all their girlfriends makeup or jewelry, "and we probably will again," she admits, "but they will have to use their own money they have earned, and we will make sure they are small, inexpensive gifts."

Some kids this year will be spending their money for a good cause. The Jordans, Devin, 8, and Sydney, 6, will be giving gifts to the less fortunate.

"They broke their bank to buy gifts for homeless children and they felt good about it," says mom Wendy of Silverton. "It was so nice that the gentleman at the store gave my daughter free candy, and at another store, they gave them free gift wrap for doing a good deed."

"When my children (Allison, 20, and Brad, 17) have given gifts to their friends, it has always been with a gift swap," says Patty Wells of Columbia Township. "All names go in a hat and then each one draws a name. Then there is a party at someone's house or they all get together to do something. There was also a dollar limit. That always worked out well."

E-mail srhone@enquirer.com.