Thank you!! Some suggestions needed...
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Thank you!! Some suggestions needed...
| Fri, 06-24-2005 - 12:38pm |
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has responded to my posts so far.
| Fri, 06-24-2005 - 12:38pm |
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has responded to my posts so far.
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I mean, I cant tell people "sorry I have no money, no Christmas gift for you."
Yes you can. If they love and care about you, they will not want you to go into debt to buy them a gift.I save tons of money on groceries by shopping at Aldi. Do you have one in your area? We stopped eating out every weekend and its amazing how much we have paid extra on our cc's.
Too get serious about getting out of debt you may have to make some sacrifices for a period, knowing that the return you will be getting will be astronimical! I would cut back on any non necessary spending. No wants only needs, and so what if you eat chicken and burgers instead of prime rib for the next year. Getting your finances in control will be so valuable.
June was my first month on the board, so I look forward to paying my debt off with you!
Shannon
Shannon
Nah-you're not alone! One of the first things I thought of when I read this was,"hey! I bet she'd be a perfect candidate for the Mary Hunt Freedom accounts!"
Basically, you know you're going to have the same expenses every year. Instead of having to use youre credit card, you just set up an account and chunk money in it all year long, but the thing is, it's already earmarked for something specific. Hopefully someone will be able to explaing it better, LOL!
As far as the grocery bill goes, buy what's on sale. Plan menus around what you have,or what's going to be on sale,and stick to a list when you go to the store. I hate doing this myself, but I do know that when I actually use the whole menu thing, we don't spend as much at the store. I know you can do it without eating a bunch of mac and cheese (or top ramen, lol)!
You can do this!
Lisa
All my best,
Danni
I just wanted to say, it is really fun to make a game out of shopping for gifts. My friend swore to me that she could spend around $5 a person for gifts and I have made a game of trying to do it too. (and we are still talking about thoughtful gifts that we really think they will like) It is easier for kids we buy for, nieces and nephews, i know their clothing sizes and what they like and if i am at marcs (the local discounter that has great priced toys often ) or children's place outlet , where they sell shirts an sweaters off season for 99 cents apiece alot , i will buy ahead. So i have my 3 neices and nephews pretty much bought for for christmas already, i just buy the next size up in clothes for them and/or toys that are on sale earlier in the year. And I spent maybe 5 or 6 or 7 dollars tops for each of them, but have 3 or 4 gifts for each of them. They had adorable winter hats at children's place for 50 cents each and these little adorable purses for 50 cents each, you catch my drift. I am only new to this the last few years but i am getting better. My friend is also my SIL whose children these are, and she buys for my two kids and she gets them the greatest gifts, and they are much more meaningful then if i knew she was out spending 40 dollars apiece on them (plus i really believe kids don't need such lavish amount of money spent on them for toys)
I think you can apply these principles to gifts for adults too, i find it is more like 10 dollars apiece, actually usually more like 20 or 25 for my parents, but i never go over like 15 for my sisters and i try to keep it lower. I also find that if i wait until december, i spend probably 5 times as much per gift.
Good luck and happy shopping!
Shannon
How do we know what board needs a cl? I think this board is very well 'cl-ed', but what others are open?
Lisa
All my best,
Danni
Hey again,
Sounds like you're on the right track! It can be hard early on, but as someone else said, it will pay off big time.
About groceries--this is a GREAT place to save money, and you *don't* have to eat mac n cheese every night. In fact, my family typically eats pizza, quesadillas, spaghetti, stir fry, and a variety of ethnic dishes from Mexican to Thai, as well as the occasional hamburger meal. And we spend, for four people approximately $200 a month.
I get asked about this so often, I've actually posted my method on my website. You can find it here:
http://www.heather.careyhead.net/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=23&MMN_position=32:11
It can seem overwhelming at first, but honestly I don't spend that much time on it now, and I only shop for groceries once a week. You don't have to do everything in the method, but anything you do will save you a lot of money without cutting back on your meal options significantly (I admit, we don't have filet mignon or caviar very often, for instance).
Blessings,
Heather
"I mean, I cant tell people "sorry I have no money, no Christmas gift for you."
Yes you can. If they love and care about you, they will not want you to go into debt to buy them a gift."
Shannon, you are ABSOLUTELY right! And with your determination, I bet you will get your debt paid off in no time!
I did away with Christmas gifts years ago and told my friends not to get any for me. Not only I no longer waste money on silly gifts that they may or may not need/want/like, they also stopped wasting money getting me gifts. I guess what I am trying to say is the stores are doing an excellent job putting pressure on us to spend, spend, and spend - somebody has to say "enough" and stop the insanity. Why get yourself and your friends into debt buying gifts when the gifts bring no joy? (O.K., maybe some instant gratification but lots of worries afterwards).
By the way, the only debt I have is the mortgage on my loft. I bought my car (used) with cash; my student loans were paid off within 4 years of completing my degrees; and I pay my credit cards in full every month.
I told my mom and my sister 2 years ago that we should stop exchanging gifts and just have the children exchange. We all have everything we could need, and there is no point in buying each other stuff we don't need and paying to ship it around the country. They agreed and now my only Christmas gift expense is for my dd, niece and nephew, and one of dd's friends that she exchanges with. It saved a lot (a lot of money that I don't have).
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