The Nest Egg #15: Your kid's holiday wish list, as a money game
Plus when online deals are forecast to peak, and what "buy now, pay later" means.
By the UNest team · 3 min read
November 14, 2026
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Wish list season is here.
Hi {{first_name|there}},
Now that November is here, wish lists are starting to show up on fridges and in family group chats. So, this week, we have three ways to make holiday shopping a little easier on your budget, and a little more useful for your kid. There's also a quick quiz to test your holiday shopping instincts.
IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE
- See when deals are forecast to peak
- Try the wish list budget game
- Learn what "buy now, pay later" means
Let's get into it!
– Mitch, from The Nest Egg team
QUICK QUIZ
MONEY MOMENT
Holiday shopping starting? Here's when deals may peak.
Adobe expects U.S. shoppers to spend $275.1 billion online from November 1 to December 31, up 6.7% from last year. Cyber Monday, November 30, is forecast to be the single biggest day at $15.1 billion, ahead of Black Friday at $12.9 billion.
Discounts are expected to grow as the season goes on: up to 14% off in early November, up to 21% just before Thanksgiving and up to 30% during Cyber Week. Toy discounts are expected to reach up to 29%, with the best toy deals forecast for Black Friday, and online toy sales are expected to hit $9.6 billion, up 9.6%.
If bigger gifts are on your list, it can pay to wait for the late November sales. Set your total budget this week and make the list now, then buy the big items once the bigger discounts kick in.
One more trick: write down the most you'd pay for each big item before the sales start. When Cyber Week hits, you'll know a real deal when you see one, and it's easier to pass on the ones that aren't.
Source: Adobe, "Adobe: U.S. Holiday Shopping Season to Hit Record $275.1 Billion Online, Rising 6.7% YoY," Sept. 28, 2026. Figures are Adobe Analytics forecasts, not reported results; actual prices and discounts can differ. UNest is not affiliated with Adobe.
TEACH YOUR KID
The wish list budget game in 5 minutes
Have your kid price each item on their list, then give them a pretend $100. Over budget? Something gets swapped out, just like with real money.
Make it fit your kid's age:
- Ages 4–7: Pick three items and use stickers or play money as dollars.
- Ages 8–12: Look up real prices, add them up and rank what stays.
- Ages 13+: Compare prices at two stores and pick which items to wait on for a sale.
Based on David Whitebread and Sue Bingham, University of Cambridge, "Habit Formation and Learning in Young Children," Money Advice Service, May 2013. UNest is not affiliated with the University of Cambridge or the Money and Pensions Service.
UNEST FAMILIES
What's your family's big purchase rule?
Wait a week before buying? Compare stores to get the best price? Have the kids chip in for the things they really want? Hit reply and tell us how your family handles a big purchase, especially one for your kids. Your answer could be featured in a future issue of The Nest Egg. We'll ask for your OK before sharing anything.
PLAIN ENGLISH
What "buy now, pay later" actually means
Buy now, pay later plans split a purchase into a few smaller payments, often four spread over about six weeks. Many charge no interest if you pay on time, but late payments can bring fees.
To stay on top of it: put every payment date in your calendar when you check out, and keep one running total of what you owe. If a new plan pushes that total past next month's budget, skip it.
Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "Buy Now, Pay Later: Market Trends and Consumer Impacts," Sept. 2022.
KEEP READING
Looking for more? UNest Insights has money guides for parents, plus every past issue of The Nest Egg.
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