Xmas shopping done...and the Total is???

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2006
Xmas shopping done...and the Total is???
12
Sun, 12-21-2008 - 8:45pm

We just bought our last present tonight and the total for Christmas is $398.61. This reflects everything I've bought for the holidays, including the Christmas tree, lights and

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
Sun, 12-21-2008 - 9:34pm

you did a great job I am sure next year will be better for you guys.


Mary Ann


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Sun, 12-21-2008 - 9:43pm

Congrats Abbie!


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2007
Sun, 12-21-2008 - 10:02pm

Wow you done a great job. I hope next year be a better year. I don't have a clue how much we spent. On family members we spent $20 and on the girl's it was $30 each.


Hubby and I spent around $100 or so on both us. I hope we can have a better christmas next year.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Mon, 12-22-2008 - 10:47am

Abbie

Norma


"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-1998
Mon, 12-22-2008 - 3:46pm

My total for Christmas shopping this year is much lower than usual, A few presents were bought over the summer at yard sales for great prices. Brand new wicker picnic basket w/accessories for $5. We spent under $750 this year on actual Christmas stuff. But and there is always a but in my life. We went over budget going to see my new granddaughter, that cost us about $1200. I did tell my son that because of that he was not to expect very much in the way of presents this year. We won't have as much credit card debt in January as in past years, so that is a good thing. I did make a lot of gifts this year using things that I already had on hand instead of going out and buying new materials.

Merry Christmas to everyone and a Prosperous (debt-free) New Year.


iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2003
Mon, 12-22-2008 - 4:29pm

Great job!


I figured up my spending yesterday, as well, and I came in at over $300, and I only bought for Mom/Dad/bf/ old roomie & her family

Teresa
http://www.affordingpickles.blogspot.com

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2006
Mon, 12-22-2008 - 4:54pm

Don 't you sometimes wish that you could just go out and splurge on everyone. Ipods, Blurays, HDTV's? I love that commercial on TV about the diamond earrings. "Give the one you love something to remember" or some crap like that and then they say "Diamond Earrings for as low as 1699!" Like that's some kind of huge deal! Who spends over a thousand dollars on one present for Christmas?


I will also be putting money aside for Christmas next year. Either that or I'm going to be putting money aside for the huge tax bill I get every year that's due right around Christmas. That screws me up every year and I never plan for it! Either way, I'll be ahead of the game.


Abbie


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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-1997
Mon, 12-22-2008 - 5:10pm

I've been able to stay within my budget for the last couple of years. When the kids were little, I was much more likely to go overboard. For the last couple of years, even though we have much more money to spend, I'm more likely to stick with what I planned. And I'm sure they will be happy. I budgeted $250 for each of the three kids, and roughly the same for DH, though I went a bit over for him. Parents and sisters are $30-70 each (it's just 4 gifts). A few small things here and there, $25 gift cards for teachers and so on. There will be no "Christmas hangover" - I budget for this out of my bonus - about $1500.

I can completely ignore any and all advertisements for jewelry, electronics, and cashmere sweaters. My girls don't wear jewelry, and I don't want my husband to give me any. There is no way I am buying electronics for anyone, unless it's something small like an iPod Nano or a digital camera. My father would have an absolute fit if I bought him something expensive, and my ILs wouldn't even know what a flat panel TV is!

Kelly

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Mon, 12-22-2008 - 6:14pm

This year, my daughter and I have severly cut back on Christmas.

Kate


empty purse

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2003
Mon, 12-22-2008 - 6:33pm

There is a local furniture store here (Nebraska) that has started with commercials that say "Don't forget, your tax return will be here soon!

Teresa
http://www.affordingpickles.blogspot.com

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