Debt Dumpers - 2013

[ceemys]

I've finally paid mine off except one. It's a promo and only $25 a month. I figure ill just pay the $25 a month and use the rest of my money to put in my ....
- Xmas account- just put $100 in it
-52 week savings challenge
- vacation fund
-$50 a month pulled from my check into special savings account. Starting sept 17th it will start pulling $100


I find myself obsessing over saving now

Great job!! woot woot

 

[ceemys]

I am the same way! It's funny once you get the debt paid off your obsessed with saving the money I am trying to budget out my money now for some upcoming bills that I have already saved for and put in savings - but think if I can re-budget my paychecks I won't have to touch the money in savings I hate to see the balance go down in that account!

I'm the same way. I do over obsess on my savings! lol

 

[Deffenm]

Paid off one loan yesterday so will have an additional $140 per pay.

 

[honeybunches]

I paid off a small credit card today. Yeehaw!

 

[AuroraRora]

Good job everyone, its so great to see everyone doing so well!! Gracie, I'm a little late to the party but I feel your pain with you dental issues! I'm in kind of in the same boat - I'm scared to go to the dentist for fear of how much it'll cost, and just general dental terror!

I made another extra payment towards my student loans today, so for the one I'm currently working on, I'm at $7k paid out of $14,500. I'm soooo trying to have this on paid of by my Disney trip at the end of October *fingers crossed*

 

[gracie1]

Wow, you guys are doing a great job Everyone should be proud of what they have accomplished so far!! I was browsing through this thread last night, wondering how everyone was doing that was posting in the beginning but haven't been back in quite a while.

Aurora... I have dental fear too! But I know it has to be done, and am just going to do a little at a time. I have to sit down and take a look at my budget and just plan out one filling a month I think!

On top of that, I am sitting here thinking about Christmas My favorite time of the year!! I have started shopping already.

 

[ceemys]

Paid off one loan yesterday so will have an additional $140 per pay.

I paid off a small credit card today. Yeehaw!

awesome!!

 

[bababear_50]

Wow, you guys are doing a great job Everyone should be proud of what they have accomplished so far!! I was browsing through this thread last night, wondering how everyone was doing that was posting in the beginning but haven't been back in quite a while.

Aurora... I have dental fear too! But I know it has to be done, and am just going to do a little at a time. I have to sit down and take a look at my budget and just plan out one filling a month I think!

On top of that, I am sitting here thinking about Christmas My favorite time of the year!! I have started shopping already.

I've been sitting here thinking about Christmas also. It is my favorite time of year but I'm afraid of over spending this year. I'm finally out of debt and don't want to end up spending 6 moths paying off Christmas debt.
I'm thinking of getting one Christmas card for each of my love ones and slowly as I can afford it putting a gift card of some sort in the card.
Christmas stockings are another huge cost for me.
Staying away from credit card debt is one of my goals.
Sometimes I feel like cutting up the darn card.
I'd love to hear how others budget for Christmas.
Hugs
Mel

 

[ceemys]

I've been sitting here thinking about Christmas also. It is my favorite time of year but I'm afraid of over spending this year. I'm finally out of debt and don't want to end up spending 6 moths paying off Christmas debt.
I'm thinking of getting one Christmas card for each of my love ones and slowly as I can afford it putting a gift card of some sort in the card.
Christmas stockings are another huge cost for me.
Staying away from credit card debt is one of my goals.
Sometimes I feel like cutting up the darn card.
I'd love to hear how others budget for Christmas.
Hugs
Mel

It has been well into 10 years that I haven't charged to Christmas. You can do it without charging! . I utilize layaway. I have done the buying gift cards once a payday also. Freeze your cards in a block of ice. Lol I have also started stocking stuffers in the summer. But since my money is focused on this down payment I told both of my kids that Santa will bring them their normal one or two gifts but gifts from me will be very limited.
I love Christmas and will be super happy when I can decorate with ALL of my decorations.

 

[gracie1]

I've been sitting here thinking about Christmas also. It is my favorite time of year but I'm afraid of over spending this year. I'm finally out of debt and don't want to end up spending 6 moths paying off Christmas debt.
I'm thinking of getting one Christmas card for each of my love ones and slowly as I can afford it putting a gift card of some sort in the card.
Christmas stockings are another huge cost for me.
Staying away from credit card debt is one of my goals.
Sometimes I feel like cutting up the darn card.
I'd love to hear how others budget for Christmas.
Hugs
Mel

I try to buy things as they go on sale. After Christmas when bath and body works has their semi annual sale I buy lotions and body wash for the following Christmas. I always give loofah sponges with them which are only a $1 so I pick them up when out. Then things like razors and all if they are on sale when I am at Walmart I pick them up. If I have small gift cards to get I will pick one up at the grocery store when shopping. Shopping early really helps me out!! I save Black Friday for me!! Lol

 

[honeybunches]

I've been sitting here thinking about Christmas also. It is my favorite time of year but I'm afraid of over spending this year. I'm finally out of debt and don't want to end up spending 6 moths paying off Christmas debt.
I'm thinking of getting one Christmas card for each of my love ones and slowly as I can afford it putting a gift card of some sort in the card.
Christmas stockings are another huge cost for me.
Staying away from credit card debt is one of my goals.
Sometimes I feel like cutting up the darn card.
I'd love to hear how others budget for Christmas.
Hugs
Mel

I was thinking of doing the gift cards thing, too. If I start now and buy one each time I'm at the grocery, I could have it all done by Christmas without really noticing the extra amount. I save about $25 per week using coupons, so it would also be a tangible way to see those savings. Thinking that I could also cash out my online points sites for physical gift cards to use at Christmas too (although I already do that......I would go ahead and put them in cards, to have that part finished.)

This month I took advantage of the Kmart pharmacy deal and got $100 in gift cards for transferring prescriptions. I plan to give those to DH's 4 nieces/nephew in Christmas cards. Then I want to start on my kids' teachers and move down the list.

 

[Tink575]

I've bought a lot of stocking stuffers, almost done with them and started to buy some things for friends. I pick up things I see on sale or as deals on Woot etc. I have designated Christmas boxes in the basement and try to have all my shopping done by the beginning of November. It takes a load off my mind.

 

[jenny105]

No no no no no no no. Too early for Christmas talk. It's August people! Concentrate on Halloween if you want to talk about holidays lol.

 

[pryncess527]

I'd love to hear how others budget for Christmas.
Hugs
Mel

When we started our new budget program in May, we included Christmas and Birthdays in our consideration of regular annual expenses (along with car registration, insurance, etc.). Since we started in May and did not have a full year to save, we took the amount we expect to spend and divided by 6 to figure out how much to budget each month. In January we'll assess how accurate our estimate was and budget 1/12 of what we need each month.

I also keep an eye out for deals, so a lot of the money in our Christmas category will get spent before December. YNAB makes tracking those year round Christmas purchases easy so I don't end up overspending, which used to happen to me when I shopped for Christmas year round because it was so easy to lose track of how much I spent on everyone. Even though I was getting good deals, I was also spending, in total, more than we had intended.

 

[gracie1]

No no no no no no no. Too early for Christmas talk. It's August people! Concentrate on Halloween if you want to talk about holidays lol.

Lol Jenny! Today is August 25th - 4 months till Christmas

 

[lauradis]

They have xmas stuff in sam's club

 

[zy144622]

Well looks like there may be a dent in our snowball for a while. New daycare cost will be triple the last 3 years even though my oldest will be in school full time . We planned ahead for 1 medical procedure but not 2 that it turns out we need. Last but not least we had to get a new fridge at our cabin. We are here now and it's no longer working properly. Thankful it doesn't need to be anything with bells and whistles. I'm hoping to find a deal in the scratch and dent area. Not letting it get o me just facing reality. Now to focus on saving somewhere else to make up some of the gap!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

When we started our new budget program in May, we included Christmas and Birthdays in our consideration of regular annual expenses (along with car registration, insurance, etc.). Since we started in May and did not have a full year to save, we took the amount we expect to spend and divided by 6 to figure out how much to budget each month. In January we'll assess how accurate our estimate was and budget 1/12 of what we need each month.

I also keep an eye out for deals, so a lot of the money in our Christmas category will get spent before December. YNAB makes tracking those year round Christmas purchases easy so I don't end up overspending, which used to happen to me when I shopped for Christmas year round because it was so easy to lose track of how much I spent on everyone. Even though I was getting good deals, I was also spending, in total, more than we had intended.

FWIW, here's how I keep track of Christmas spending so I can still shop for deals any time of year without losing track.
Whenever I buy the 1st Christmas gift of the year, I create an email folder labeled "Xmas Receipts 2013" or whichever year. I then make another email folder called "Xmas List 2013". Once I make a purchase, even very small items, goes on the list which I email to myself. I start with whom it's for, such as "Grandmom" then list everything I bought for her along with price. I then list everyone that I normally shop for so in an instant I can see who is done and who I still need to shop for. Each time I make a purchase, it's entered on the list under the name of the person it's for. All receipts go in a big envelope hidden in a desk drawer so dh & kids don't see. Any online purchases that give email confirmations get moved from my inbox to the xmas receipts folder.

I can also easily "discuss" with dh with kids at home, via email, The List (of course taking care to delete the list of items for him) so that he can see the list anytime without kids seeing or overhearing.
Also it makes it convenient that I can access my List from work or if I get a possible gift idea I can quick jot it on the list before I forget.
This also makes it easy to make sure I'm spending equal amounts on both of my kids. It sounds like a lot of work but really it isn't and keeps me so organized. Any time I make a new entry on The List I email it to myself again and move it from my inbox to "Xmas List 2013" folder so the most recent email in that folder will always be the most updated list.
Also I make a note on The List where online purchases are shipped since I often have items shipped to my parents house so kids or dh don't see them. A big ol' box saying Samsung 24" monitor on the side is kind of wrecks the element of surprise.
Not intentionally but by not deleting old emails, I now have all Christmas lists & online purchase receipts since Christmas 2009.

 

[disneycrazi]

I've been sitting here thinking about Christmas also. It is my favorite time of year but I'm afraid of over spending this year. I'm finally out of debt and don't want to end up spending 6 moths paying off Christmas debt.
I'm thinking of getting one Christmas card for each of my love ones and slowly as I can afford it putting a gift card of some sort in the card.
Christmas stockings are another huge cost for me.
Staying away from credit card debt is one of my goals.
Sometimes I feel like cutting up the darn card.
I'd love to hear how others budget for Christmas.
Hugs
Mel

We have an easy way that we handle Christmas, we don't do it! Except for my DS age 9, any and all gifts for other family, teachers, coaches people at work etc...are gifts of food. I don't have a huge family and DH has a larger family but is not real close with them so it just makes sense for us. I am a retail store manager so Christmas for me is stressful enough without the added pressure of buying things. We will be spending a couple Sundays in December baking and preparing gifts of food. My DH is an amazing cook and loves to do it so that's a bonus. We feel Christmas is not what it should be, not about the real point, and so that's another reason it makes sense for us. We also will be serving for Christmas, serving the homeless, those who are sick and alone. These gifts of service will be random acts of kindness that we do when we feel led to. My DS loves to do this and it is creating a heart of giving within him. I will be done buying for DS and everything wrapped by Nov 1st so that way we can enjoy the whole season without stress.

 

[bababear_50]

Thank-You to everyone taking the time to share how they budget for their Christmas.
I am going to give it my best shot and stay away from credit card buying.
I went to my credit union and have started a "Christmas Time Fund".
Each pay period a small amount will be transferred into the account,
it may not help this year but future Christmas expenses should be covered.

Thanks again everyone.
Hugs Mel