How goes the holiday budget?

Avatar for cl_phocid
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: 03-27-2003
Mon, 12-12-2005 - 4:03pm

I wish I had really planned better, but I am still paying cash for everything and not breaking the bank.

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Avatar for mahopac
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-1997
Mon, 12-12-2005 - 5:35pm

So far, so good! I almost always end up charging everything for Christmas on Amex, since I get a quarterly bonus and pay the bill from that. This year I know that bonus is going to be larger than anything I have seen in years, and I'm excited about that, but it hasn't changed my spending habits. That makes me happy, because it means I have *really* changed my mindset about spending - I am not changing my lifestyle yet!

I haven't bought new clothes for the company party, I haven't spent any more for the kids than I would have previously (no iPod for my DD, even though she wants it and I can afford it this year), and I didn't go crazy buying things to decorate the house. In fact, the thing that brought me the most delight was realizing that with the amount I am tithing from my bonus, I can send generous checks to 5 of my favorite charities. The other things I am doing with it are setting aside enough for DH and I to go out twice a month instead of once a month, and to employ my babysitter as a housekeeper once a week. She lost some of her housecleaning jobs when she had to go back to her native country for 8 months, and we would love to have someone clean the house, so it works out well for all of us.

Kelly

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
Tue, 12-13-2005 - 10:54am

I guess we're doing ok on budget. I've been picking up things here and there for my present box since after last Christmas. My mom loves bunnies and I found a Lennox glass bunny salt and pepper shaker set for over 75% off at Lazarus last season. It was under $3!!

We really don't have a set amount for the kids, I just try to keep the same amount of presents for both. I guess since I buy throughout the year I lose track of how much I spent on them, so that could be a bad thing. They are usually a great price though.

We just bought a puppy (golden retriever~~~adorable!!) and told them that was their present from us. But it's hard to cut back on Santa gifts because of course they don't know that we're paying for those AND the puppy! Luckily, I had a lot of toys bought early. Dh and I aren't exchanging gifts because of the puppy $300, the cage we needed for him $90, and the $1400 truck DH got a month ago for winter driving. (Our Neon doesn't cut it on unplowed roads at 4 am on his 40 minute drive to work~ and I'm not giving up the Durango when I have the kids to drive around on back roads.)

DH got a bonus instead of the annual Christmas party- which was great- I stuck that in our savings since I haven't put anything in there in a while.

Nicki

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Tue, 12-13-2005 - 2:57pm

The Holiday budget is actually going so far, so good.

Back at the beginning of November, I started a spreadsheet and inputted EACH payday between now and December 31st. Under each one I made a list of expenses, and inputted calculations that would let me know how much I had left after each expense. I've been doing very well with inputting everything from cash withdrawals to regular bills. I made a "plan" for the entire 2 months, and adjusted down the line as unexpected things popped up.

It helps very much that December happens to be a 3-payday month (I get paid bi-weekly), and I also got a $250 Christmas bonus. And it certainly was a "bonus" because, for various reasons, we thought we weren't getting one this year. Don't worry, my company is not going down the tube or anything, it's just cheap.











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