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lol, I'm a big lover of the holidays so this is a time I really have to watch the ole spending.
I'm actually not bad with the gift giving as my kids are young adults and tend to want specific things, my entertainment budget is what usually gets beat down.
I'm hosting a pre Christmas dinner on the 22nd and trying to keep the food budget manageable. big families can eat!!
So how's everyone else making out? any tips you use to keep on the straight and narrow.
Hi,
Well for one thing i start shopping early...like August and September. If not earlier. I start planning early.
That way i can look for good prices sales etc.
That way i totally avoid last minute impulse spending.
That way im set well in avance of the last minute rush.
My presents were already done by mid Nov at the latest.
I have just 3 great nephews, 2 bros and a nephew and neice inlaw, and my OH to shop for.
Now all i have to do is wrap.
We go to bros house for dinner and presents. I dont have any work to do there.
My husband's department is shorthanded right now, so he's getting lots of overtime. All the Christmas money is coming out of his overtime, and there's still some left over to put in savings. I'll have to make a Christmas dinner, but it's not going to be very elaborate or expensive...pork tenderloin, wild rice and cranberry sauce, plus a tres leches cake for dessert.
I even have fireworks left over from the 4th of July, so I don't have to buy fireworks for New Year's.
Over the years, we've cut way back on gift-giving. Hubby and my siblings and me are all of that certain age when we really don't need much and we don't want more "stuff". So our gift-giving is confined to FIL and 2 grandnieces. We do give a few toys to our local police department's toy collection. And we have a family grab bag where everything has to come from a dollar store. It is a scream every year, and stuff gets regifted over and over. Especially the really hysterically-funny items. But that's it for buying gifts.
lol, I'm a big lover of the holidays so this is a time I really have to watch the ole spending.
I'm actually not bad with the gift giving as my kids are young adults and tend to want specific things, my entertainment budget is what usually gets beat down.
I'm hosting a pre Christmas dinner on the 22nd and trying to keep the food budget manageable. big families can eat!!
So how's everyone else making out? any tips you use to keep on the straight and narrow.
Holiday travel is always the budget buster for us, and it is this year as well. Having family in other parts of the country is very expensive.
lol, I'm a big lover of the holidays so this is a time I really have to watch the ole spending.
I'm actually not bad with the gift giving as my kids are young adults and tend to want specific things, my entertainment budget is what usually gets beat down.
I'm hosting a pre Christmas dinner on the 22nd and trying to keep the food budget manageable. big families can eat!!
So how's everyone else making out? any tips you use to keep on the straight and narrow.
Most financial experts say not to exceed 1.5% of your income on Christmas. Very conservative experts like to keep that at 1%. I find these numbers reasonable.
WE, (in our extended Family ) stoppedALL presents a few decades ago. But nice cards and thoughts were always part of the "Holiday Season"
BTW~ Out Family is far and wide so unable to afford "Get-togethers" for so long Couldn't even estimate. We do contact by phone and lately Skype/Chat.. so Love is spread digitally and face-to-face!!
In the past decade, things have changed..my eldest passed away, and I'm now aged and decluttering and no not WISH presents but would love a call or card ( for those out of country)... I've give-up on buying appropriate gifts over a decade ago..so gave gift cards so the Grand's could get something they wanted.
The above have changed even further .. So I asked for ZERO gifts from anybody. I do not need something I have to figure out what to do with! Health Issues demand thatI unload items and have NOW no use for, giving it away to Family and donate is my agenda.
I' do appreciate Christmas season..BUT have NOW embraced it's spirit and discarded the "Capitalism Side" of it! My Grand's have outgrown the "Magic" of Santa and have become more into "WHAT I can Score" > Materialism has been too promoted/prominent !!
I spend money for food/meals/treats and munchies when visiting... BUT, No more for Physical items and I have no need for any gifts.. other than Family Bonding efforts!!
Husband has a lot of grandchildren. They get $50 each.
We bought a new UHD TV from Costco as our Christmas. It is HUGE. But we love it so far. Extraordinary deal.
That be it.
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big families can eat!!
