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Christmas

September 5th, 2006 at 04:11 pm

Question......has anyone thought of Christmas yet? I was wondering. It seems like a far off item-but it is not if you are budget wise and thinking out things a bit in the area of spending and being thrifty. Do you pay cash for gifts? Do you make gifts? I am the type that could live with very little as far as Hoilday hoopla goes. Since my divorce it has been a more simpler time of year. My ex usually has the kids for most of it since that is what they have done for years....so I do not have to make big family dinners or do much as far as big entertaining. I had to purchase un-ending amounts of gifts for my ex's side of the family...and again thankfully that is now not an issue.

I may begin to start shopping now.....and getting a few things here and there.....
I also do not want to fall into the overspending trap.

So I was just wondering how everyone approaches Christmas as far as spending and shopping and gifting others.

9 Responses to “Christmas”

  1. LuxLiving Says:
    1157470353

    I make a list - put a budgeted amount next to each name - then as I buy for them if I've spent my entire budget for them I cross their name off the list. If I've got a remaining balance and still need to buy more for them then I make a notation of that. List is in wallet at all times until the shopping is over.

    This helps me keep from buying my Mom 10 things and forgetting to buy Uncle Bob anything. Before list - it seemed I was always finding things for one person and forgeting that I had already bought for them. This evens the score.

  2. frontporchmom Says:
    1157472830

    I started to do the list thing last year and that was help.......I also look over gifts near Christmas time and re-arrange and re-do a bit.
    YES! you have to have that list or I am not sure how you can stay on track. Thank you for the reminder to make that list! Last yr I cut way way down on gifts for teachers and other people as well. That can get nutty!
    Have a good week.......

  3. Thrifty Ray Says:
    1157473172

    Yes, I have thought about it and have bought a few gifts already. I am also planning to use the various gift cards Ive received from trial offers and points as gifts too...and i will be making a few gifts as well....

    Really, it is not that far off if you make any of your presents...and it is NEVER too early to find great deals IMO.

  4. boomeyers Says:
    1157476514

    I start at the after sales in January! Then I start picking up gifts, with cash or AMEX (monthly) starting in August. Hope it works! Got a couple of people done already!

  5. LdyFaile Says:
    1157484840

    I haven't really done much for Christmas gifts in years. I just enjoy spending time with family and friends. Granted, I am just me, no kids to buy for or SO for that matter. I just don't have the money and don't need the stress. My family knows I love them.

    Of course, it doesn't help that my brothers and I are all born in November and we generally do something for birthday gifts.

    Last year I asked my family to instead donate to an organization in my name or buy an angel tree gift instead of getting me something. I got the idea from a friend of mine who's family growing up didn't get gifts for each other but they all pooled their money and bought stuff for another family that needed it.

  6. homebody Says:
    1157510251

    I've been threatening for years to just give the kids money. Last year me and the older girls went shopping at Target the day after Thanskgiving and they ended up buying themselves cameras and I bought a cd player for my office.

    After spending the weekend decluttering and getting rid of pajamas and a porcelain doll that YD never used her grandmother gave her... I really am going to just give cash this year. My girls buy want they need and why clutter up their life with more stuff??

    Plus YD is moving to North Carolina in early December so it doesn't make sense to buy for her since it is going to be a crazy month.

  7. miclason Says:
    1157553841

    I've already started and have gifts for 3 people (Yay!...my total list is 8 people!)

  8. Kris10leigh Says:
    1157558247

    My DH, niece and nephew are all finished!

    I have an excel worksheet I created. I have the budgeted amount next to each person's name and as I list next to it what I bought, it subtracts it from the total for me. So I always know how much I have left.

  9. frontporchmom Says:
    1157589616

    wow! You are all so organized!! I see some common threads....budgetted amount ahead of time .....lists of the projected persons to gift and.....starting early. I also hear de-cluttering too.
    I dislike buying things for the kids for the sake of buying. Last Christmas I made a day of H'oderveres.....instead of a big family meal....it was alot of fun. We sat and watched movies, played with our gifts and ate....it was so relaxing....I loved it. I tend to buy lots of art and craft items...things to do over the school break-that is always a winner in my Christmas gift book. My older son likes cash......save it and spend some......it is nice for the older ones to have some freedom.

    It is hard from the standpoint of who gets the kids.......I dislike that part. I make due and make the best of whatever happens. Yes....Holiday fun is not that far away!!!

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