Want to hear something scary?

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Want to hear something scary?
8
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 10:30am

It's only 94 more days until Christmas!!!!!


How are you doing being prepared for it, if you celebrate?

Avatar for mahopac
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-1997
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 11:03am
I'm just going to be a lot more sensible. I figure my monthly budget line for "presents" has to start going towards Christmas in October, and I am willing to spend it on Christmas right though January, but that's it. So basically that's only $800 - at most $1000 - for Christmas. We've already suggested to the kids that we get a new computer & DSL or cable modem as a family present, and just give each other a couple of little things, so we may well do that.

There are two things entirely under my control that have wreaked havoc on our budget the past 2 years - Christmas and vacation. I'm determined that this year we get them under control by being more modest about Christmas and taking a shorter, less expensive vacation. I will NOT have my planning ruined again next year by overspending on those two things.

Kelly

Avatar for mymartes
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 12:49pm
I haven't put much thought into christmas shopping. right now, saving for our 3 week vacation to Puerto Rico in November. We are celebrating the kids third birthday overthere. (Which happens to fall on Thanksgiving day). Also, saving for the new home contruction.

I don't plan to spend too much money on christmas presents. I do have a sub-account for presents in our freedom account. It has a little something in it.

Boy....maybe i should start put more money aside for that. ACK!!!!! 94 MORE DAYS!!!!

MYM

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-18-2004
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 4:43pm
I just wanted to say that I saved a huge amount of money for the entire family for Christmas at Kohl's the past two years. I love that store especially at clearance time. I spent a little over $300 last year for over 30 family members from age 1 to 80 and walked out the door with over $1600 in clothes and accessories. That was like an outfit for each person, shirt and pant, or shorts and top, and even an accessory or two. I got home, added up all original prices and voila....I couldn't believe it. I am talking a shirt that was originally priced at $45 and I paid maybe $5 for. Shorts that I paid $3 for that were OshKosh. Tops that were $.80 that were originally $12. Jeans for $10 that were originally $60. Etc. Just a thought.

Trisha

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 5:16pm
I plan on spending about 500-600$ on Christmas this year, which is way less than usual. The bulk of my spending usually comes from my boyfriend's present. (One year I bought him a 3200$ guitar). His family has a sort of distorted view about the Christmas. They figure the more money you spend on someone the more you love them. Unfortunately, I started to adopt that philosophy and applied it to my own family, landing me in a heaping pile of debt that lasted until November of the next year....

That's awesome about the Kohl's thing. I've never really shopped there, but there's one by my house so I plan on stopping there in a few weeks to start my shopping. I want to start shopping early this year. I usually wait till the last minute (like Christmas Eve) every year, and end up at the mall, very frustrated and overspending like usual. This year I want to plan it out a little better....oh and the boyfriend is Ok with a modest gift this year....and I expect the same from him....

This year my mother became very ill and is in a nursing home. She was an awesome cook, and I miss her food and baking sooooo much. I found her old cookbooks, and I'm going to start baking Christmas cookies this year. I'm attempting Thanksgiving dinner too, and maybe some pumpkin pie. I can't wait to start. The money for all the baking supplies is included in my Christmas budget......

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-1999
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 6:31pm
Your money tree isn't growing either, huh?

Anyway, no more boyfriend after several years together-so no shopping for him or for his family, not that we really did anyway since they are far away.

My mum and the man she lives with both feel that lavish spending at Christmas is inappropriate and they don't feel comfortable with it and they don't like it. I thought I might buy them a set of new flannel sheets so it's something useful and not excessive, but that's about it. I would buy something small for my brother and his girlfriend, and maybe a $20 present for my roommate (I will get her a tool box because she keeps the few tools that she has in a shoe box with an elastic band around it...).

So, I don't plan to spend more than $100, $200 at the most. I'm not concerned about it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-18-2004
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 7:10pm
I have some family members who used to think that way..."the more we spend the more we love". Well we quickly broke that chain and now we all spend a little less. Of course we could spend $100 on one gift, but why? Would you rather receive 1 gift or 3,4 or 5 gifts? I would rather have many to open. LOL I always keep a close eye on items that I am dying to buy nowadays. I always kick myself when I walk back into the store a week later after buying something only to notice that I spent $10-$20 more on it than I could have. I have a friend who told me a little secret about a different nationwide chain. When something is "red-tagged", if the price ends in a 7 that isn't the lowest price...go back a week later, mid week, it will be marked down more....if it ends in a 4 that is the lowest price they will sell it for. I can tell you I have bought some good quality clothing and I have kept my eye on some "red-tagged" items and watch them go from $5.97 to $1.94 in a week.

Hope you get some great stuff at the store. I know that every city is different. I went to one in Houston where my brother lives and "WOW" what a clearance rack! It varies from store to store too, so if there is more than one store, go to both.

Trisha

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
Wed, 09-22-2004 - 12:20pm
I kinda got myself in a bind because I thought that Sept was our extra pay month and I always use that money for Christmas --- well turns out I miscalculated and that extra pay comes in DECEMBER!!! So the paycheck that I need will be after the holiday!! I already bought a few gifts and hid them- I guess I'll just keep buying little by little when I have any xtra money. Then I can use that extra pay in Dec for snowflaking cc payment instead of for Christmas!!!! Sounds good, but can I do it???...........

Nicki
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2003
Wed, 09-22-2004 - 1:06pm

I'm trying to ignore it. lol. Mostly because my mom's birthday is 12/22, my dad's is 12/27. So, I"m wondering what I should get them this year. lol.


I've also told myself to spend




my pet!