Impulsive shopper on a budget!

[smkiya]

I made a vow to myself. DD was only getting 4 gifts, and DS 2 gifts. Black Friday is a week away.

DD should get:
Laptop/netbook $198
Snuggie for kids $9.95
Littlest Pet Shop Playset $34.99
Nintendo DS game $29.99

DS: 2 age appropriate toys ~$50

They don't need clothes, as I buy them throughout the year, and last year dd got tons of toys that she never played with.

But....

Someone posted on the Budget board that Amika flat irons were only $49.99 (reg. $250) on Amazon. I got one.

Saw Target BF ad, Casio Keyboard with stand, only $49.99, dd said she wanted one a few months ago... sooo tempting...

Hungry Hungry Hippos will only be $9!

You see where I'm going...

I'm sure once I see the paper ads, and get in the stores the impulsive person in me will go mad! I really want to stay under $400 total for both, but it's turning out to be very difficult!

 

[Crystal0608]

Lol, you sound so much like me it ain't funny! I am very impulsive shopper and the online deals are my current weakness. I've added a few Walmart bf deals to my list-$5 footballs, $3 pjs, $9 dvds... I do all the holiday shopping for my mama so luckily I get to shop for twice as much to get my fix.

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

LOL, I sooo feel your pain. DF swears he's watching me like a hawk...I don't doubt it either. After much umm..negotiation....we decided to get the following for C'mas...subject to change for Hol lol:

Remy:
-IPOD color black (her choice sigh..such cute colors too)
-Twilight book series - still searching for cheapest deal..wish the last one was in paperback darn it!!
-Twilight book mark to go with books-2.99 on sale lol
-giving her my old desktop PC (I have my new laptop) after cleaning it up and its only 3 yrs old lol
-new pair of pjs to open on C'mas eve (tradition lol)
-Stocking will have candy in it with a card.

Now for the hard part...Holly lol...she doesn't make a list and won't give me any hints about what she wants lol..

Holly:
-giving her DF old desktop PC (around five yrs old but servicable and internet capable for a five year old lol)
-some PC games she thought looked cool
-some DS games
-maybe some puzzles cause they are her favorite pasttime lol
-new pair of pjs (again tradition)
-stocking will have her candy and card in it

Now I feel like I am favoring one girl over the other but I just have no idea how to A. Keep it "even" and B. what the heck my youngest wants..she said no toys lol..idk Remy seems like she's getting better gifts lol..

 

[C.Ann]

I set a budget.
Make a list.
Purchase online (same or better deals than BF - with free shipping).
Stop shopping and don't venture out into the stores..

It's waaaay too easy to get into that mind set of, "Oh, it's ONLY" - or, "Gee, Bobby would really like that" - etc..

Self-control.. You can do it!

 

[EthansMom]

For the big stuff, I'm like C. Ann. I make a list of things the kids will like and make a budget.

I do allow myself to pick up some little things around town, when I see them. But, by and large, I try to stick with things that I KNOW my kids will enjoy rather than "oh, this is on sale!". I would far rather pay full retail price for one toy my child will love than buy two toys on sale that my child will play with for only a couple of days.

Personally, I try to avoid the "What did you buy your child?" and "Black Friday" type threads at this time of year. Far too many people who justify spending money "because it's Christmas" or "because it's on sale".

 

[golfgal]

Take cash only to the store-no other forms of payment.

I understand exactly what you are saying because I have decided what to get each of the kids already and thank you very much for mentioning the flat iron that DD has been hinting she wants because the is NOT on the list I already decided to get them

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Maybe I'm looking at this differently than was intended, but you're willing to spend a few hundred on your 5 year old daughter, and less than $50 on your son? Whether he's at the age that he knows or not, I think this is very unfair. And you're buying your 5 year old a hair straightener? I think now would be a good time to teach your daughter that she is no longer an only child. Maybe the baby doesn't "want" much, but I'm sure there are "needs" that you could buy and give as gifts. How will you reconcile Christmas pictures of DD opening tons of presents and DS has two presents?

 

[smkiya]

Maybe I'm looking at this differently than was intended, but you're willing to spend a few hundred on your 5 year old daughter, and less than $50 on your son? Whether he's at the age that he knows or not, I think this is very unfair. And you're buying your 5 year old a hair straightener? I think now would be a good time to teach your daughter that she is no longer an only child. Maybe the baby doesn't "want" much, but I'm sure there are "needs" that you could buy and give as gifts. How will you reconcile Christmas pictures of DD opening tons of presents and DS has two presents?

The hair straightener has a lot to do with an incident I actually posted on the dis last week, about dsil attempting to chemically straighten dd's hair... NO WAY! I sat down and talked to dd about her hair and how beautiful it is and that it's ok to have 'poofy' hair sometimes (thats what her cousin called it) and straight sometimes. It will actually help dh manage it better when I'm not around too.

With ds, he really doesn't need anything. I just bought a ton of clothes that he needed this week. I was thinking of wrapping a winter coat for him, but he'll need to use it before Christmas. I don't want to buy a bunch of toys, he has a lot already, and will be given tons of stuff from my side and dh's side because it's his first Christmas. I'd be willing to bet though, that by the time Christmas rolls around, I'll have added quite a bit more to his side of the tree...

I hate spending money, but I also hate passing up a really good deal. I don't use credit cards, I pay cash, and the deals seem really good this year. I need to harness some of that self-control a pp talked about.

 

[Crystal0608]

I have a 1" & 2" straightener that my dd 9 also uses herself, I've been using them on her hair a few years. I think its a gift that will last a while .

 

[dislal]

The hair straightener has a lot to do with an incident I actually posted on the dis last week, about dsil attempting to chemically straighten dd's hair... NO WAY! I sat down and talked to dd about her hair and how beautiful it is and that it's ok to have 'poofy' hair sometimes (thats what her cousin called it) and straight sometimes. It will actually help dh manage it better when I'm not around too.

With ds, he really doesn't need anything. I just bought a ton of clothes that he needed this week. I was thinking of wrapping a winter coat for him, but he'll need to use it before Christmas. I don't want to buy a bunch of toys, he has a lot already, and will be given tons of stuff from my side and dh's side because it's his first Christmas. I'd be willing to bet though, that by the time Christmas rolls around, I'll have added quite a bit more to his side of the tree...

I hate spending money, but I also hate passing up a really good deal. I don't use credit cards, I pay cash, and the deals seem really good this year. I need to harness some of that self-control a pp talked about.

When my kids were babies I would wrap up diapers, wipes, formula and anything else like that that they needed. Maybe you could do that so it looks like the baby is getting more, but just make it stuff you already have or need to buy anyway. The older kids Loved it because it was more things they could help the baby unwrap too.

 

[glitterkittyy]

My DD has very poofy hair. She's had a straightner since she was 7. When hair is *that* poofy, age doesn't matter. lol

 

[golfgal]

I was never too concerned about spending equal amounts of money on our kids, we did get equal number of presents or close to it. This year DS14 needs new golf clubs and those will cost probably double what we spend on the other (probably double of what we spend on them combined ) but the other two are getting what they really want and will be thrilled. I figure this is pay back for DS14 from the year the only thing he asked for was a Nerf Basketball hoop (we splurged and got him 2 ).

You are STILL tempting me with that straightener. Hopefully our youngest niece will get her name in the kids' Christmas drawing because I know my SIL would be thrilled to buy that for her . Otherwise, I will pass that along to Grandma.

 

[puffkin]

When are their birthdays? Last year I went a bit overboard on DS but got a ton of really awesome deals. I do it every year. Usually, relatives will come and shop through my stash for him since it is easier for them and then he will get what he wants. Even after all that last year, I still had what I considered too much so I put some of it away until his birthday in March and even had a few things leftover for Easter.

With DS being so little, I wouldn't worry about spending equal amounts. DS at that age was more intested with the boxes than anything else. I would just make sure he has some big colorful packages to open, even if it is just some socks inside.

 

[RadioFanatic]

Maybe I'm looking at this differently than was intended, but you're willing to spend a few hundred on your 5 year old daughter, and less than $50 on your son? Whether he's at the age that he knows or not, I think this is very unfair. And you're buying your 5 year old a hair straightener? I think now would be a good time to teach your daughter that she is no longer an only child. Maybe the baby doesn't "want" much, but I'm sure there are "needs" that you could buy and give as gifts. How will you reconcile Christmas pictures of DD opening tons of presents and DS has two presents?

thank you, I was thinking the same thing! And OP's response still doesn't change my mind on this.

 

[smkiya]

thank you, I was thinking the same thing! And OP's response still doesn't change my mind on this.

*SIGH*

Alright, alright, I guess I'll wrap some socks (after the first use, one is always missing ), diapers & formula like a pp suggested, and a baby music cd (he loves listening to music in the car). I'm not however going to spend an equal amount of money. DD didn't ask for the laptop, but she is always asking to use mine or dh's and at less than $200 I couldn't resist. I would buy one for me or dh and just give her an old one, but we need much more than a $200 laptop to do it (dh does all of his payroll on his and has tons of work programs on it). Some of her classmates have websites set up for the kids to interact on, and there's lots of educational programs and games she likes online (Nick Jr. Sprout, etc).

I can't stop looking at the sale ads though. Good thing I have an appointment for a temporary intervention this afternoon with Edward Cullen...