Did it again...

[inkedupmomma]

Every year i say the same thing.. I'm not going to go crazy buying gifts. And every year, I DO! I absolutely love shopping for my kids, and for the most part, they get nothing all year long, with the exception of new clothes for season changes, or stuff they buy with gift cards given to them at birthdays/holidays. I'm not sure I say every year that I won't go crazy, but I do.

Anyone else in the same boat? This post doesn't really have a point, I just needed to say it out loud lol

 

[pandora174]

I am the same way We are a very small family. DS basically gets presents from us & that's it. Through the year I am big on books, art/crafts. But at Christmas I seem to lose my mind ! It's so much fun buying the gifts & finding great deals ! I swore I wouldn't over do it & I just did ! Amazon is killing me with the great deals & free shipping

There I said it too

 

[apnep]

Yes, we are hemorrhaging money over here and it's not just for my kids. It happens every year. I just keep seeing things they either need or neat things they want and DH & I usually find great deals this time of year on stuff for us too. I DO have to say that I usually compile a list and then "edit" what we get. Sometimes stuff will go back if we don't feel it's necessary.

 

[katman2540]

Not sure if this is in the same light but I decided today to book a trip for me and DW to Disney next month. That was a bundle of money I was originally planning on spending this year!

 

[HLDisney]

I know how you feel! I just bought my DD 2 more gifts today because I was feeling bad that she was only going to have 2 presents to open from me and I usually allow her to open one present on Christmas eve so I was afraid that she would be disappointed with only 1 gift from me the next morning. I don't usually get her a lot but it's usually about 3-4 things (1 for Christmas eve and 2-3 for Christmas day) I can't afford to spend as much as I used to spend on her (which was about $200 in total) this year b/c I'm unemployed but I picked up a DS game for her today and an additional book. I had already gotten her the stuffed animal she asked for and a few books I got for free from Paperbackswap. The stuffed animal was $17, the DS game was $25, the additional book was purchased with gift cards I earned from Swagbucks and the other books were free from PBS so in total, I've only spent $42 (plus another $15 for stocking stuffers) However, I really could have been fine with the stuffed animal and PBS books but as usual, I just couldn't resist getting more....

Helen

 

[inkedupmomma]

I don't know what happens to me lol! I know this budget board helped me save a ton though! I just adore buying gifts for people and seeing them happy! We also bake a ton of stuff and give that out as well, I can hardly wait for that part!!

 

[acmmommymouse]

Me too, Me too!
I love Christmas and the preparing for it. My kids adore coming home for Christmas and I love it that way.
I thought I was doing so well this year, still making it special for all of them, but keeping to my Christmas budget by really keeping track of my list.
Then yesterday my credit card bill came and yes, I have kept to my list and have the money to pay for all as planned, but then all those things are there, the little things that you pickup along the way, not really on your list, but just make everything a little more special.....and I did it AGAIN!!!!!
Don't know if I explained that clearly, but other Christmasaholics probably will understand. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and enjoy all of your efforts!

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

I don't know what happens to me lol! I know this budget board helped me save a ton though! I just adore buying gifts for people and seeing them happy! We also bake a ton of stuff and give that out as well, I can hardly wait for that part!!

I do the baking thing too!! I started getting my list of cookies together this week. I always tell myself I am going to save money by baking and making things. But then I go crazy and the saving money doesn't happen..lol Or I expand my list of people.

Last year I made more than 40 no-sew fleece blankets. This year I am making wreaths and am limiting myself to couples for that.

I am a Nanny for my niece and nephew so they are decorating picture frames for everyone for Christmas! A whole lot of stuff going on but I love the smile on people's faces when they open a gift!!

 

[DawnM]

Not too much. We have a budget and stick to it.

Today is middle son's b-day and he wanted a DSi XL. That is about all he got from us. Once they want expensive gifts, they get fewer of them.

I *may* let him pick out a lego set at DTD this evening AND we are taking him out to T-Rex for dinner, so there is some more to come.

Christmas is fairly small this year.....they want $50 Wii games each and my oldest wants a DSi 3D, so I will give him $$ towards that.

Dawn

 

[mom2t]

I do that too - My son is an only child - I always go through and put some things back for later in the year because I have bought so much . I have Val. present, stuff for his Easter basket and most of what will be his birthday presents. I even have a small stash Love Bug movies 1, 2, and 3 and a DSI game to come in a package from Mickey Mouse at the end of Jan. for our trip to Disney. There are too many good deals this time of the year.

 

[blackforest]

Me too! First it was One one for DDs, and one for me and hubby. Then five for the girls and two for DH and me. Then I just threw in the towel!

 

[olwyngdh]

My family has always been presents for Christmas, presents for birthday (clothes and one or two toys), candy for Easter, Clothes to start school, and some summer clothes in the spring, therefore, Christmas has always been big. It has always been the only time for toys, and when older, electronics. I start buying for Christmas in the summer and hide and save things. My MiL is even worse--she has boxes ahead for years for her grandchildren

Am I spending too much on Christmas? Probably, but I started buying the AG stuff as soon as they said they were retiring Felicity--one thing every pay doesn't hurt as much as all at once!

 

[southern_redhead]

Guilty! It is all DD's fault - they had soo many cool girl things this year and I couldn't pass them up. Of course, I couldn't give her a bunch of gifts and the boys a few so I had to even things up. Thankfully, it isn't ALL toys. There are also books, a boardgame each, clothes, and movies

 

[starann]

In the same boat!!


I got both boys a DSi, but since they are 6 and 7, they really don't understand Santa has a budget and they will get 1 or 2 things under the tree...so they will have a lot more under the tree then I planned on or DH would like (he always yells at me each year about how much I spent...little does he know how much I SAVE due to deals and such!) I'm sure once they are older I will be able to get them 1 or 2 big things and leave it at that!

A LOT of my shopping has been does with deals or sales. And we have cut our list of people to buy for WAY down (my sis and I don't exchange for us, jsut the kids, same with my best friend). The only other kids I buy for, other than my own, are my niece (age2) and nephew (8) and we have about a $40 limit for each kid and my best friends daughter (age 2). Oh crap, I buy for my niece age 15, but I don't buy her as much as I used to (she lived with DH and I for 3 years, and those years she lived with us she was treated like she was our own, in fact 1 year I spent more on her then the boys!) but I buy her more than my other niece and nephew.

Every year I tell myself I will stop buying so much, but every year I can't stop shopping! I know how lucky we are to be able to do this for my kids.

I have also tried ot start activites, like Buddy the Naughty Elf, or making gingerbread houses or baking cookies that the kids will remember when they are grown (I feel as if those activites are the things they will talk about when they are 30, long after the gifts are forgotten.)

 

[sameyeyam]

This is the first year ever that I've had a budget and I'm sticking to it. It was very simple (thanks to Dave Ramsey).

We sat down with an envelope and wrote names on the outside. Then we decided how much to spend per person and wrote that dollar amount next to their name. We added up the total and went to the bank and put that amount of money in the envelope.

It was very easy...because in my mind I knew that is all that I had to spend. So if I went over on one person, I would have to spend less on another person. When the money's gone...the money's gone!

Guess what? It worked!!!!!! Not only that, it was super easy to do. Do you know that studies show if you use plastic (debit or credit) you will spend on average 30% more. It was a wakeup call to us to actually see the cash going out of the envelope. It really did make us think twice about what we were buying and how much we were spending.

It also made me do something unexpected last night (since I'm almost out of money). I got my DD a new mp3 player because her IPOD died. But last night I sat down with the IPOD and discovered that the problem was the USB cord was not plugged into the electrical receptacle correctly, so that's why it wouldn't charge! Now I get to take the mp3 player back and I've now got anotehr $80 to spend on her!

This has been one of the least stressful holiday shopping seasons I've ever had...oh and since I'm not using plastic, I won't be paying for it in July.

 

[superme80]

It is a huge struggle!!!! I have had to physically leave stores so I would not go overboard. I love to shop for others. When I get asked what I want for Christmas I draw a blank.

 

[nunzia]

I totally understand. I buy gifts all year round for various things that will be coming up,.We have a large family and extended family and the extended family always talks about not buying gifts..and yet.....I thought I'd keep track of what I spent on gifts for a year and kept a notebook...well..about November that got scary so I gave it up because it took away from the pleasure of buying stuff! There's all the birthdays, and I get each grandkid (8 and counting) a new outfit or 2 before school starts, and then for Christmas I try to keep it to 3 gifts and clothes, which isn't too crazy. Plus...gifts for all the adults, a little something for my co-workers, a little something for my volunteers (I work at a church) a little something for my boss at my second job (entertainment store), something for my DH boss (also best friends)and his wife (my best freind), DH office party cookie exchange and gift, then also I make them each a baked goods platter, and oh yea, we have friends over for snacks and to watch a Christmas movie and then of course I have brunch at my house for Christmas morning which this year will be 15
I pay off my CC every month..mainly (Dave would not be happy with me since I am kinda a halfway follower but it works for me) but this month I've come up short to pay them off. Oh yea..my DH, who never wants anything..decided we should take the leap on a big screen..