tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post3432047949209273821..comments2024-03-28T16:17:27.278-04:00Comments on DON'T READ THIS; IT'S BORING!: Christmas Funds....Yep, It's that Time Alreadyslugmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12728856166374248591noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-36125105501411394022014-09-15T09:55:37.337-04:002014-09-15T09:55:37.337-04:00Ahhh, the time of year when I panic! I've got ...Ahhh, the time of year when I panic! I've got about $500 saved and I'm just about ready to cash out the $250 I have in credit card points. I'll come up short again this year. Sigh.Sonya Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01985227040902078422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-2704016676204218812014-09-14T23:06:09.352-04:002014-09-14T23:06:09.352-04:00We definitely are way under the 1.5% income guidel...We definitely are way under the 1.5% income guideline. ;-) We typically spend between $1,000-$1,500 on everything minus plane tickets. That includes additional food cost, additional donations, and gifts.Hawaii Plannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760426766801381563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-74857333850289237442014-09-13T13:14:57.138-04:002014-09-13T13:14:57.138-04:00Pie! :)
This year, I've saved 14 dollars (100 ...Pie! :)<br />This year, I've saved 14 dollars (100 Swedish crowns) each month specifically for Christmas. Fourteen dollars sounds very little, but by now I have about 126 dollars, which also sounds very little so why don't we stick with Swedish currency and say that I have about 900 crowns, which sounds a lot better to me :).<br />I did the same thing last year and I got ONE really great gift with it.<br />I don't have a very specific Christmas budget thought out. I'm going to try to focus on the blessings that I already have.Pieliekamaishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15706413342474838387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-32312490844296249072014-09-13T11:38:22.723-04:002014-09-13T11:38:22.723-04:00There's pie?? No shopping debt for me either! ...There's pie?? No shopping debt for me either! Kazi is my main recipient and then I spend less on my two brothers, sister-in-law, nephew and family. The rest of my many family members we don't see at Christmas and I just send them Christmas cards. Nobody needs or wants anything as we are all trying to downsize so gifts tend to be consumable or of the gift card variety. I stay within my budget though I haven't really set one for this year - it's my first year on a pension so I guess I'll have to cut back a bit. It's the time together that counts, not the gifts. Well, and the pie...mmmmm...Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02803104035204416080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-47801192095165499552014-09-12T17:54:01.336-04:002014-09-12T17:54:01.336-04:00Instead of gift cards, see if you can get prepaid ...Instead of gift cards, see if you can get prepaid debit cards. They are acceptable wherever VISA and Mastercard are taken, the fees are low or non-existent...just like cash!<br /><br />Peace <3<br />JayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-38536825512219953522014-09-12T17:06:21.270-04:002014-09-12T17:06:21.270-04:00I already have small things, and only big g-daught...I already have small things, and only big g-daughter's gift. The WM gift cards, store card from hardware store, swagbucks all come to about $200. I buy for three children, dil, and four g-children. I budget for all I can get free or very close to free.<br /><br />I say "about" $200 because I have not kept up with sb because I somehow lost the search bar. As for the hardware gift card, it is not as bad as it sounds. They bring in things just for Christmas. The children's almanac and the bird book were gotten at Lowe's for little grandchildren last year. Besides, tools and flashlights could be gotten for gifts. <br /><br />I started getting small things the day after Christmas. I do need to go through my stash to see what I have. Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991571309786149363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-36626585105575273252014-09-12T16:44:48.131-04:002014-09-12T16:44:48.131-04:00Oh, and MMMMMMM....pie!Oh, and MMMMMMM....pie!Franceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01817017829323955078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-24772970340550240392014-09-12T16:44:37.037-04:002014-09-12T16:44:37.037-04:00We don't budget, just spend what we like. But ...We don't budget, just spend what we like. But we never spend more than we have to spend. Our Christmas spending really is a lot less than it used to be. Lots of recipients get jam for Christmas and they are perfectly happy with that. We give our grown kids cash and not nearly as much as I hear that some people give their grown kids. We could afford more, but they don't need it and are happy with what we give. We give the grandkids toys but don't go overboard as they get a LOT of gifts from a LOT of relatives. Hubby and I don't need a thing, so spending on each other will probably be less than previous years just because we can't think of things we want/need anymore. LOL!Franceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01817017829323955078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-36369927732060597102014-09-12T14:31:57.509-04:002014-09-12T14:31:57.509-04:00Nope, I never go into debt for Christmas, either. ...Nope, I never go into debt for Christmas, either. I did the very first year we were married (almost 30 years ago!) and never ever did it again. If there was a year we just only had a couple hundred to spend on everything (and there were many of those years) that's all I spent. If some family member didn't like their $5-$10 or home made gift - tough! It's the thought that counts, right? :-) Now, I budget about $1000 a year too.One Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00369132659573259613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-47571694185802718242014-09-12T12:47:24.593-04:002014-09-12T12:47:24.593-04:00Mr. R and I are going to Target to look around for...Mr. R and I are going to Target to look around for some ideas for Christmas tonight after work. I like to get each of the girls one nice more expensive gift and then some smaller gifts so they have plenty to open. I'm at a loss this year as to what to get them. They have so much. So we're going to look around for inspiration. Plus my birthday is coming up and I think I know what I want Mr. R to buy me but I want to look at them at the store and do a little more research.<br /><br />Our gift budget is $900 this year. We pay for it with the extra money from our 2nd 3 pay check month every year. That budget includes: Christmas gifts for our daughters and family, wrapping paper, Christmas cards and stamps plus 4 winter birthday gifts are included in this amount. <br /><br />We already bought 2 boxes of Christmas cards at a garage sale this year and I bought 1 gift so far that Big R asked for and I found on clearance for only $3!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12575251423110138595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-35409727710043552242014-09-12T12:40:18.576-04:002014-09-12T12:40:18.576-04:00Hi Slugmama, this is Chris. We automatically have ...Hi Slugmama, this is Chris. We automatically have $100/mo put in savings for all Christmas expenses, including extra baking supplies and stamps too. Great article and links. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-71531517688910349252014-09-12T11:55:32.474-04:002014-09-12T11:55:32.474-04:00MMMM PIE!
I don't save year round but should...MMMM PIE! <br />I don't save year round but should. Our Christmas bonuses usually come around the first week of December so we set aside money from that for gifts. Yep - absolutely the wrong time of year for that sort of shopping!<br />I used to buy ahead, but then I'd forget what I got or where it got put.<br />McValhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00285808958951068897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611711622146875201.post-75575523780309649502014-09-12T11:26:02.038-04:002014-09-12T11:26:02.038-04:00I've been planning Christmas all year long! I ...I've been planning Christmas all year long! I have a few gifts stashed away already but I'm not nearly as on top of things as you are :) I have a feeling, I'll be doing mostly giftcards or online shopping this year anyway :) My goal was not to spend a dime out of our regular income. All of the money comes out of blogging income, surveys, cc rewards (luckily, mine gives cash back) and cash back. My budget is around $700-750 and I'm right on track :) Lenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16064081200654561079noreply@blogger.com