Christmas Resolutions, Anyone?
Find a Conversation
| Sun, 12-26-2004 - 11:15pm |
Seems like Christmas is a hard time for a lot of people financially. I know we've struggled with it in the past, and gone into debt because of it. Anyone up to join me in a resolution to start today, on making next year's Christmas stress-free (at least on the financial front)?
Here are some options I can think of (can you think of more?):
Start a Christmas fund (how are you going to fund it? Will you set it up to come out of your paycheck each pay period before you have a chance to spend it? How much will you need?)
Reset expectations (right after Christmas is a great time to discuss plans and ideas for next year--suggest a name drawing, giving of gifts to children-only, set a low monetary limit, agree to exchange only home-made gifts, or simply decide not to exchange gifts next year at all)
Buy gifts over the course of the year (can you draw up a tentative Christmas list for next year? Project how old each child will be--can you start buying age-appropriate gifts now? How about keeping your eyes open everywhere you go for good deals on items you know each person will appreciate? Can you even look for some items used, and spiff them up to gift them?)
Start making your home-made gifts in January, so you won't get caught up at the last moment (I really need to do this!).
How about buying ornaments and other items on sale now, to be added to gift baskets next year? These make great items to give to co-workers and others you may not know on a personal level but wish to honor with a gift.
Who else has ideas for ways to start next year's Christmas plan right now (and hopefully save themselves some heartache and extra debt come next year)?
Heatherd

I was thinking about just this same thing last night while watching all the promos for the New Years Eve shows on TV. Usually, I resolve to lose weight. I think I've had that same resolution since I was a kid. LOL!
This year, I am going to resolve to decrease my debt in 2005 by half. Our last car is almost paid off, and we've got a big credit card to deal with, but I really think I can do it. I look at what I've accomplished this year, and I really think it's possible.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Well, our family has helped us out in this category, we exchanged names for the first time before we opened gifts Christmas Eve and set $50 gift limits. We spent $467 on eight people and next year it will only be $150 for three people. We will still exchange on my husbands side (small family) and we'll exchange among my husband, son and I...but still quite a savings plus a lot less stress! I do resolve to get my christmas list in order and shop all year long. I already picked up 5 christmas tin containers on sale at Walmart for my 5 bosses(I always do little something for them)...they were only $1.49 each.
I do feel we went overboard with our spending this year...we both got nice bonuses and I really enjoyed the shopping season..the weather was so nice etc. But that $ is still better spent (giving to charity, saving and paying down debt)!
Happy New Year Everyone
cindylee
I think I am going to resolve to make Christmas better this coming year, too! I am going to have a simple holiday in 2005 with fun gifts, not expensive ones! Seems everyone liked their silly gifts very much! So much for practical, bring on the goofy! Food was simple, too.........baked goods and breakfast sandwiches and tea and coffee and juice....
Everyone was happy with a simple morning...........good enough!!!!!!!!!
And these are just Christmas gifts.....we are not paying ransom or trying to change lives with Christmas gifts...just trying to say we love them and share some happiness.
I'll start saving now for next year's holiday, make a couple gifts....and do this by setting an electronic reminder that goes to my email every week to remind me to do something towads next Christmas.
Littlesbigs
A thing I kinda learned to do, is to shop
a year, 2, 3 in advance. For example,
my sister graduated from UNC a year ago.
It wasn't a surprise, just like birthdays
or christmas. I planned ahead. Now, it took
6 months, but I find her this carolina blue
fenton vase, its only made maybe 1946-1947.
I get it off ebay for $35. It was the perfect
gift, but wasn't expensive. I try to do that
with most gifts. You always have to be thinking
10 steps ahead, but you can get perfect gifts
without spending the mint.
My (now) ex girlfriend loved submarine mnovies. My uncle
goes to Russia 10 times/yr. I say....hmmmm.
I get him to get me the exact antique silver russian
tea glasses from the Hunt for Red October...$25.
You have to use your imaginations, not the mall, for the perfect gift.
As for my personal resolutions:
1. Loose this annoying 5+ lbs I can't lose. It might even
be 6 or 7, its hard to tell based on weight because I added
some muscle in 2003, and I'm no longer sure what my ideal
weight is. But I know I'm not at it.
2. Get back to the gym enough to look like Adrian Paul
(I have had some health issues including a lot of back trouble
last year).
3. Secure this contract that allows me to start a part time
engineering business and finally cash in some on my degree, which
I really have not been so good about doing so far.
4. Get back into martial arts.
5. Maybe be more outgoing, as I've been kinda a hermit the past while.
That's a pretty big ticket for me for 2005.