How goes the holiday budget?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
How goes the holiday budget?
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Wed, 12-07-2005 - 12:33pm

How are things going for everyone in terms of dealing with expenses that crop up this time of year?

All my best,
Danni

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2005
Wed, 12-07-2005 - 2:25pm

Well thus far, I've pretty much stuck to my Christmas budget for gifts. Of course, there are always expenses that pop up unexpectedly. I plan on finishing up my shopping this weekend then I'll get cracking on the wrapping of presents. Thankfully I have all the wrapping supplies I'll need from last year.

My family and friends have discussed it already, this year will be our last Christmas that we spend a lot. My parents have already scaled way back. The other two people I buy for are scaling back next year due to a move so that will help alot.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2004
Wed, 12-07-2005 - 3:50pm
Unfortunately, the holiday budget thing isn't going too well for us. There is still some time to salvage that, however. For one thing, my company posted weeks go that our christmas bonus will be direct deposited Dec 9, but they changed their mind yesterday, and we won't get it until the following week. Another thing that is causing me some frustration is just that I am plain exhausted, which makes me more prone to spend more than i want to and debt just to get the entire experience over with. I did take an extra day off next week, however...so hopefully, i will be ale to regroup then. its a matter of ordering things in time for them to arrive by Christmas. Major stress. i haven't really blown the budget (yet) because i have not shopped period. Heather
Avatar for siriele
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-15-2003
Wed, 12-07-2005 - 9:20pm
Danni OMG Talk obout the unexpected. We live in a 3br house and we were going to pay the tax bill when the furnace blew! We were basically living on one jet (we have forced hot air) and the new furnace cost 2x the amt of the tax bill. so now we are scrapping the bottom of the barrel to come up with the monies for both and I borrowed from my mom and grandma. I have to repay both of them so its a good thing that #1 - we have heat and #2 - all the holiday gifts were purchased already and most of all my family!!!! We have no holiday budget so to speak of. But I know the holidays will be great being with the people I love the most:) Iris
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Wed, 12-07-2005 - 10:13pm


Good idea, Danni! I do hope to plan better for next year. I've heard that the after-Christmas sales are a good time to do shopping for the following year, so I think I might do that. Also, when the stores start discounting their winter clothing in early Spring, I think I'm going to budget for some sweater purchases. Sweaters make great gifts, especially when you can get them 75% off! LOL! :-D I think I might purchase my holiday cards after the holiday also to get a savings on those. For those gift recipients who are hard to shop for, or might want a specific type of item, maybe I could watch for sales during the year, rather than waiting until November/December to do all my shopping.

I'm definitely going to be doing some planning. :-D

Pat :-D

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Wed, 12-07-2005 - 11:54pm
Hi, Danni. Well, I plan to open a Christmas Club account for next year, so I dont get tempted to overspend. I remember when I did have a Christmas Club account, I was surprised to get a check at the end of November for shopping, etc. What a pleasant surprise! Of course, I know most people get their shopping done way early, but it is an idea I am considering. Whiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 12-08-2005 - 7:38pm

Argh!! It's not going well at all!! Dh keeps having these things pop up--company gift exchanges, friends he doesn't want to leave out, and on and on. Our expenses have quickly grown from $200 budgeted to $700 budgeted. Luckily, I got a check from my freelancing for $500 that covers it all, but that was supposed to be tax money. And I feel like if we didn't have the money, we wouldn't spend it.

I've been REALLY good. I've been making these gorgeous little personalized gift baskets, and I can't wait to start giving them. They're averaging under $3 each, plus a lot of time and love.

But then there are all the people for whom a basket just won't do...and company exchanges, and family exchanges ($80 just to cover the four people we have to treat in the family exchange, for instance--argh!).

And then the stupid insurance company--dh wanted me to come meet this guy selling insurance. I didn't want to, because I knew I'd feel pressured, but dh insisted he was such a nice guy and everyone loved him and on and on. Well, sure enough he convinced us to sign dh up for a policy with his company because it was cheaper than what we were already getting and we could cancel it anytime in the next 30 days and get our money back. Nevermind that what we already have is a level term policy (premium never goes up during the next twenty years) or that we trust the company we have it with, let's save a couple or three bucks a month (for now). Well, a week or two later I come to my senses and tell dh to have the guy cancel it. Well, he talks dh into waiting a little longer to see if the premium comes in even lower. Sure enough it does. Finally, just before the 30 day deadline, but after they've charged us for ANOTHER month's premium, I get some backbone and tell dh to absolutely, positively, cancel the dadgum policy. Come Dec 8 and lo and behold, they are STILL charging us the premium. Three months premium is roughly $100. $100 that I have to find somewhere to cover these charges until they figure something out, and right before Christmas too. Can you tell I'm a little steamed. So I wrote this nice little letter (it was nice, honest) for dh to sign and send so we have everything in writing, and all he has to do is print it and sign it and I'll mail it. And he hasn't done it!! Argh!!!

Then we ordered some things online for Christmas and the place charged us wrong--another $30 we're out until they sort it out.

It's all money that's supposedly coming back to us at some point, but I sure could use the cash flow right now.

Then dh's car has been needing repairs left and right--$30 here, $150 there, adding up to probably in excess of $500 recently.

In all honesty, nothing's really that bad. Just frustrating. I mean, we have money set aside in lots of places, but I'd rather not be tapping any of it.

Sigh.

Well, at least we're not spending money we don't have.

So, that's my update. Thanks for asking. Whew. Glad I got all that off my chest! LOL

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Thu, 12-08-2005 - 9:30pm
Hi, Danni. Always good to hear from you. Well, I AM planning for next year, as this year is a mixed bag. l) Opened Christmas Club account. 2) All shopping done online. Only have a few last-minute gifts to get (DH, best GF, cats, etc.) Did I overspend? Well, it depends. DH and I set a limit of $150. One gift only. 2) For parents : Bought different things. Jams, fruit, and nuts (that's what they wanted) and a soothing waterfall-type tabletop fountain. And, a heavy-duty flashlight for each of them, and a throw for the chair. That's it. 3) $50 to Target Salvation Army Hurricane relief. You can send it where you want and can even give $10. 4) Adopted a family at work. We each contribute $5 toward gift card to store or Target. 5) To rectify my cc spending, I sent $300 to them. Back in drawer (again!). 6) E-fund--$300. 7 ) $25 limit to friends. The rest are getting cards or cookies (homemade, baking, food,etc.). Am taking cues and am starting my shopping for next year, throughout the year. BTW----got a $25 fiberoptic tree that the cats are ignoring. (so far). Looks like your dog and bird are well-behaved. Do they get a gift this year? Whiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2005
Fri, 12-09-2005 - 5:44pm

As far as gifts, we are doing well on money!

However, every Christmas my husband gets laid off for a couple weeks, and we tried to prepare for that, but really didn't do very well. :(

~Aravis~

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Sun, 12-11-2005 - 5:22pm

Great so far.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Sun, 12-11-2005 - 7:24pm

Well...I (mostly) stuck to my list, but spent about 3x more than intended due to a few splurges. I don't think I have ever spent more during the Christmas season(!), but I am very excited to give my gifts. I am going to have a VERY frugal January to make up for this month, LOL!!!

BK




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