got carried away

[Teresa Pitman]

I've just added up how much I've spent on Christmas gifts and I am feeling a bit sick. Bleh. I love my kids and grandkids and when I see something I know they want or need, I buy it. Nothing seemed like it was all that high-priced at the time. But, wow, it has certainly added up.

Next year, I am going to set myself a strict budget.

TP

 

[kim929]

I am the queen of "it's only" ville. Your going along shopping and see something and you say, oh how cute, it's only 10.00 and before you know it, all those 10.00 gifts now total 1000.00

 

[mrssmith06]

Same here!

 

[DawnM]

You can be Grandma to my kids!

I did set a fairly strict budget this year and with deals my money has gone further than I expected it to go. I am very happy about that.

Now, I do think I will be spending some serious $$ on myself in the next couple of days! I have had my eye on a new camera for a couple of years and will most likely hit the "buy" button!

Dawn

 

[mom2t]

Look for deals all during the year and kept the receipts. I just about died when I added up how much we spent on our DS.

 

[mdsouth]

Since Christmas is still a few days away, go through the presents and select some to return. Your kids and grandkids will not know what you originally bought.

In the past, I have done that. I bought quite a bit and then realized it was way more than I wanted to spend and more then anyone needed, so I returned some of the gifts before I gave them out.

Do it now and you will feel better. Believe me, you will still have a wonderful Christmas!

 

[csharpwv]

You can be Grandma to my kids!

I did set a fairly strict budget this year and with deals my money has gone further than I expected it to go. I am very happy about that.

Now, I do think I will be spending some serious $$ on myself in the next couple of days! I have had my eye on a new camera for a couple of years and will most likely hit the "buy" button!

Dawn

You may or may not have been seeking camera advice...actually you weren't but I can't help myself in recommending the Canon Powershot G12 or G15 (just a newer model).

For the person who isn't quite ready to lug around a DSLR, or is tired of the weight of a DSLR - this series of camera offers all of the ease of use in manual mode of an SLR and takes fantastic photos in manual or in auto mode.

We were taking a trip to California and I wanted to get great shots, but I did not want to lug my huge SLR across the country or risk anything happening to it - so I researched for a few months and found this line. It is WELL worth the investment, and you will be blown away by the image quality, ease of use, and practical features like the flip out screen that allows you to take self pics but aside from that the feature allows you to experiment with really creative angles for more artistic photos!

Sorry for the brief venture into OFF TOPIC.. but I had to suggest my favorite camera! HAHA

 

[DawnM]

That is what I am looking at getting....the G15. I have gone back and forth between the G15 and the Sony RX100, but I think the G15 is winning out.

I have a DSLR but want a carry around camera that has many of the features of a DSLR. My DSLR is bulky and heavy and doesn't have video (Canon 40d). I really should sell it.

You may or may not have been seeking camera advice...actually you weren't but I can't help myself in recommending the Canon Powershot G12 or G15 (just a newer model).

For the person who isn't quite ready to lug around a DSLR, or is tired of the weight of a DSLR - this series of camera offers all of the ease of use in manual mode of an SLR and takes fantastic photos in manual or in auto mode.

We were taking a trip to California and I wanted to get great shots, but I did not want to lug my huge SLR across the country or risk anything happening to it - so I researched for a few months and found this line. It is WELL worth the investment, and you will be blown away by the image quality, ease of use, and practical features like the flip out screen that allows you to take self pics but aside from that the feature allows you to experiment with really creative angles for more artistic photos!

Sorry for the brief venture into OFF TOPIC.. but I had to suggest my favorite camera! HAHA

 

[LJSquishy]

It can all add up quickly! We don't have kids of our own so we love shopping for our 3 nieces and 1 nephew. I have to be really disciplined not to buy a new gift every time I'm out shopping with all of the great deals this year! I found so many great prices that I've already purchased their birthday gifts (In Jan, March, June, and July)! I saved so much money on everything and it is easier on our budget because I spaced everything out.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

You may or may not have been seeking camera advice...actually you weren't but I can't help myself in recommending the Canon Powershot G12 or G15 (just a newer model).

For the person who isn't quite ready to lug around a DSLR, or is tired of the weight of a DSLR - this series of camera offers all of the ease of use in manual mode of an SLR and takes fantastic photos in manual or in auto mode.

We were taking a trip to California and I wanted to get great shots, but I did not want to lug my huge SLR across the country or risk anything happening to it - so I researched for a few months and found this line. It is WELL worth the investment, and you will be blown away by the image quality, ease of use, and practical features like the flip out screen that allows you to take self pics but aside from that the feature allows you to experiment with really creative angles for more artistic photos!

Sorry for the brief venture into OFF TOPIC.. but I had to suggest my favorite camera! HAHA

Thanks for the recommendation as I am tired of lugging DSLR and also worry about it when we do lug it!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[DawnM]

B&H has a great deal on the G15s right now! They are less than Amazon.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/889961-REG/Canon_PowerShot_G15_Digital_Camera.html

Includes a memory card, a camera pouch and free shipping for $419.

Thanks for the recommendation as I am tired of lugging DSLR and also worry about it when we do lug it!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[ThisIsTheYear]

It doesn't help that toys have gotten so expensive.

 

[MomToOne]

In years past, I've tended to go a bit overboard with DD12. It never seemed like it when I was doing the shopping, but once I saw all the presents under the tree - oh my!! This year, I set a budget and forced myself to keep to it. I let myself spend about half the money throughout the year picking up "good deals" that I saw on things I'd knew she'd like, then kept the other half to spend on the things she actually put on her list that I didn't anticipate. I also kept a running list of things I had for her and how much I had spent on them with me in my purse - even stocking stuffers - so if I ever felt that "it doesn't seem like I've bought her that much" feeling came along, I could just review the list and remind myself that she had plenty waiting for her.

It worked out well. The tree still had plenty around it (Santa came to our house last weekend because of travel plans), but it wasn't a study in overwhelming excess for once

 

[horseshowmom]

I know how easy it is to get caught up when you have children at home.

My daughter and I were talking last weekend about how little stress there was this Christmas. We agreed family wide (her and SIL, my parents, and us) to not purchase gifts. We all have plenty of "stuff" or we go out and buy what we want. Our SIL likes it so much that he proposed it to his parents and grandparents, and they agreed as well.

We generally try to go somewhere at Christmas and consider that as our gift. We're going to the beach this year. Eveybody just covers their own expenses, and we split the house or condo (whichever we get - love VRBO!).

 

[teacup princess]

Yep. My problem is I keep forgetting what I bought and hate to return things. I try to keep the number of gifts even between the kids because we go around and open 1 gift at a time and heaven forbid if it doesn't work out even. So when I wrap and it's not even i pick up something else and then remember, oh yeah, I forgot about that thing I bought 3 months ago.

 

[Jedimom]

Just because you bought it doesn't mean you have to give it now. In past years when I overbought at Christmas, rather than wrapping everything I held some back. There's always birthdays and Easter!

 

[FLmomof6]

I am wondering what amount of $$ is considered getting carried away? I was talking to a man yesterday about kids and Christmas. He told me his kids had only requested one item each for Christmas, so that is what they got. When I told him how much I spend on each of my kids he looked at me like I was crazy. I typically spend $400 to $500 on each child(we have 6, ages 8 to 19). I don't think it is excessive, but I have no idea what most people average. My closest estimate is that we have spent $3,500 on gifts, $400 on tree, lights and ornaments (Hallmark collection), $600 at Disney parks(local, passholders), $100 for donated toys, and maybe another $200 in miscellaneous items (baking supplies, wrapping paper, etc.) I don't feel badly about it or consider it going over board. We plan for Christmas and don't go into debt for it.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I never got carried away, I was always told by Ex Husband to not spend more than 50 dollars a piece. Not sure if mine ever really felt deprived of stuff or not. Some how it never felt like christmas.

 

[pigletto]

This year I set a budget that I felt was reasonable per kid and for each other person on the list. Then I made lists of ideas. I did most of my shopping online and checked things off the list as I went. The only time I spent more than I planned was in a Brick and Mortar store. I realized if I am not in the store looking at things.. I don't go over. So I am going to try to avoid stores as much as possible next year. It's win/win... I don't go over budget and I don't have to go out to shop for gifts!

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I am wondering what amount of $$ is considered getting carried away? I was talking to a man yesterday about kids and Christmas. He told me his kids had only requested one item each for Christmas, so that is what they got. When I told him how much I spend on each of my kids he looked at me like I was crazy. I typically spend $400 to $500 on each child(we have 6, ages 8 to 19). I don't think it is excessive, but I have no idea what most people average. My closest estimate is that we have spent $3,500 on gifts, $400 on tree, lights and ornaments (Hallmark collection), $600 at Disney parks(local, passholders), $100 for donated toys, and maybe another $200 in miscellaneous items (baking supplies, wrapping paper, etc.) I don't feel badly about it or consider it going over board. We plan for Christmas and don't go into debt for it.

I typically spend $200-$300 per child. My kids birthdays are in November, and that is typically when we go to Disney. My kids always get several Lego sets when we go. As my kids get older (12,12 & 9 now) I find myself buying less little things and getting them 1 big thing each. My girls got a lot of clothes this year, which they need.

In the spring I will buy them new bikes, as they have outgrown their old ones.