So sick of buying things

[mjbaby]

mefordis, just can't understand how you could possibly spend $400.00 on a Thanksgiving meal for 15 . I had a 14# turkey with ALL the trimmings, casseroles, rolls, pies, drinks for $40.00 (turkey was on special with additional purchase and I bought on sale most items). It was to feed 12 people with lots left over. That is my budget for about 6 wks.!!!!!! And sometimes for two months!!!

I don't know the specifics, of course, and don't want to speak for mefordis, but I think it really depends upon what you serve, the ingredients, and how the meal is prepared. A few years back I bought an organic, heritage-breed turkey from a local farmer that clocked in at 16 lbs. and $65. Now, this was a delicious turkey and the purchase met my values in a few ways, so I don't regret it. Add in a couple bottles of wine, the sparkling cider for the kids, my special queso-dip appetizer (the ingredients for that one alone are about $13) and I can see how things get a bit higher than the rock-bottom amount one could pay.

We don't do this every year, of course, and had a particular reason for going full-on extravagant for that Thanksgiving. I could have "done" the meal for $40 or $60 or $whatever, but that wouldn't have met my need on that year.

 

[mikehn]

Reading the disboard doesnt help. I think Im the only person on the disboard who didnt buy a keurig. I dont plan on buying a Kindle or a Nook either.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I haven't hardly bought anything and I'm already tired of it.

I don't mind getting gifts for the kids but having to buy for adults too just bugs me. My side of the family draws names and only buys for the kids so it's not too bad.

My husbands family won't draw names and we are expected to get something for each person.
I do family gifts now but they all have more money than us and I have no idea what his Brother and wife or his sister and husband would want. I'm tired of just exchanging gift cards which is what we've done for the past 2 years.

At least I picked up his Aunt something and know what his parents will be getting.

 

[robinb]

Reading the disboard doesnt help. I think Im the only person on the disboard who didnt buy a keurig. I dont plan on buying a Kindle or a Nook either.

I don't have a keurig or a Kindle/Nook either. I do have a Bunn and an iPhone . I do agree with you, though. I have always thought that the "Budget Board" should be called the "Spending Board".

 

[FINFAN]

I try to follow *Give 'till it feels good, not 'till it hurts*...a gift doesn't have to be perfect or make all the difference in the world~sometimes it is hard to scale back. My favorite tradition is on Christmas Eve. No matter how busy or behind I am, I take at least an hour and go to the mall, on my own. I open doors for people, smile, ask if they need help with anything, compliment them that they are thoughtful for buying such a nice gift and that it will make someone very happy. I get a lot of crazy looks, but I don;t care. I get a whole lot more smiles and thank yous and it makes my Holiday.Sometimes it is nice to take in the atmosphere without spending a dime.
mikehn, you are not alone..no kuerig, kindle or nook here either, unless someone on the boards bought one to give to me, lol

 

[NOLA_Tink]

I'm already tired of spending money on presents too! Especially because almost everyone we're buying for already has anything within their means & they're all asking for giftcards, which means no sales or savings & the recipient knows exactly how much I spent on them. I also feel like gcs just aren't very personal, but the flip side is that I know they'll be happy to get exactly what they want. I think I'm going to start a Christmas fund for next year to soften the blow.

mefordis, just can't understand how you could possibly spend $400.00 on a Thanksgiving meal for 15 . I had a 14# turkey with ALL the trimmings, casseroles, rolls, pies, drinks for $40.00 (turkey was on special with additional purchase and I bought on sale most items). It was to feed 12 people with lots left over. That is my budget for about 6 wks.!!!!!! And sometimes for two months!!!

I spent $40 just on ingredients for my awesome sweet potato casserole & yummy "festive fall sangria," lol.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Reading the disboard doesnt help. I think Im the only person on the disboard who didnt buy a keurig. I dont plan on buying a Kindle or a Nook either.

I didnt buy any of those. I have a little drip coffee maker. I am behind the times.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I'm so tired of spending money I don't want to spend! Things like repair bills and doctor bills!

I hear ya! Just today I spent a lot on a car repair for my DD's car, a dentist bill where my son fell and cracked a front tooth, and a dr bill and another copay for my middle child. Today cost me almost 700.00, and I still have all of my Christmas to buy. Oh, and our TV in the family room went out this weekend.

I'm not even in the mood to decorate for Christmas anymore. I put one tree up yesterday and I didn't even plug it up today. For the first time ever I am really felling like bah humbug!

 

[usnuzuloose]

I hear ya! Just today I spent a lot on a car repair for my DD's car, a dentist bill where my son fell and cracked a front tooth, and a dr bill and another copay for my middle child. Today cost me almost 700.00, and I still have all of my Christmas to buy. Oh, and our TV in the family room went out this weekend.

I'm not even in the mood to decorate for Christmas anymore. I put one tree up yesterday and I didn't even plug it up today. For the first time ever I am really felling like bah humbug!

I am sorry

 

[pigletto]

Reading the disboard doesnt help. I think Im the only person on the disboard who didnt buy a keurig. I dont plan on buying a Kindle or a Nook either.

No Keurig here either. We enjoy a good pot of coffee and we drink the whole pot in a day. I couldn't justify the expense. We do have a nice Krupps that has been making an awesome cup of coffee for years now. Good enough for me.

And no Nook or Kindle. Just don't need them.

 

[bettymae1121]

I'm remodeling my house and expecting my first baby, so yeah...we're spending money faster than the federal government! DH and I aren't even doing gifts between us this year, we're only buying for our very small family.

 

[Branabb]

I have mixed emotions. We run a tight budget the whole year, and we save for Xmas a little at a time. So, the money is there and we get to really splurge (by our standard). However, it's a weird feeling watching that money go bye-bye even though that is it's purpose.

Of course, that feeling disappears on the big morning when all the smiles show up.

My son is so appreciative of anything he gets, it makes me feel good.
Just doesn't feel that great during the spending stage.

 

[JB2K]

I'm tired of spending my hard-earned money on trinkets I'll never see or use, again every time I exit a ride at Disney World.

Everything else is fine by me...

 

[Sagginit]

i am actually happy to spend money on the holidays. i have very few people to buy for as we have no kids in the family and don't do extended family gifts. and when i say few i think i have 4-6 people to buy gifts for. this is 1/3 of what i had last year and previous years.

i am in the process of buying a new car (newer used) and next year i need to save up for some new furniture as my bed is going to be shot in the next two years. i have three weddings in the next 7 months including two bachelorette parties and one shower. life is getting expensive but at least i will get my friends weddings out of way and won't have to do it again

 

[momto2girls]

mefordis, just can't understand how you could possibly spend $400.00 on a Thanksgiving meal for 15 . I had a 14# turkey with ALL the trimmings, casseroles, rolls, pies, drinks for $40.00 (turkey was on special with additional purchase and I bought on sale most items). It was to feed 12 people with lots left over. That is my budget for about 6 wks.!!!!!! And sometimes for two months!!!

I spent almost $200 for Thanksgiving for just 4 people. It really depends on what you are serving (how many "gourmet" items you need) and what kind of turkey you get (fresh vs. frozen, organic, etc.).

 

[SDSorority]

I spent almost $200 for Thanksgiving for just 4 people. It really depends on what you are serving (how many "gourmet" items you need) and what kind of turkey you get (fresh vs. frozen, organic, etc.).

 

[coastiewifern]

Didn't shop on black friday or cyber monday. What a stress free few days those were.
We have gone from 2 incomes to one due to my husband's job relocation. I told the kids we were scaling back majorly this year. They have been really wonderful about it. No sulking or I want this and that. Boy wish I would have tried this years ago. They are getting older and can understand better now

 

[mrodgers]

I spent almost $200 for Thanksgiving for just 4 people. It really depends on what you are serving (how many "gourmet" items you need) and what kind of turkey you get (fresh vs. frozen, organic, etc.).

And that same $40 for the whole meal from the post you quoted is less than just the turkey for us. We had a 26 lb turkey at $1.69 on sale. $43 just for a turkey.

 

[mefordis]

I spent almost $200 for Thanksgiving for just 4 people. It really depends on what you are serving (how many "gourmet" items you need) and what kind of turkey you get (fresh vs. frozen, organic, etc.).

My turkey was $72, pre brined, fresh.

Hey, I admit I over spent. We also bought a ton of wine and beer, too, since we had guests stay over for 4 nights.

We had a ton of left overs and I just threw out a bunch today.

I need help being more frugal!

 

[rszdtrvl]

I realized today that I didn't have a Santa gift for my son (15 yo). I am so tired of shopping that I decided the luggage set that was scheduled to arrive today would be his Santa gift. I have stocking stuffers done, so I will just use what was going to be a stocking stuffer as a gift from us instead.

Add me to the "tired of spending money" list.