We need a "Don't go over Budget" support thread for Christmas....

[smkiya]

My name is smkiya, and I am a Christmas shopaholic.

The thing is, if I would just refrain from the DIS I'd be fine. That is NOT an option. You guys offer an abundance of laughs, advice, and unbelievable deals and money making/saving opportunities and I LOVE this site.

Last year I went WAY over budget, and I'm too embarrassed to say by how much. I got some great deals though from this site.

This year I have a list and a budget. I've already added one item to DS's list, so I'll have to add to DD's list. No more, I say. NO MORE!!!!

My budget is $500 total for me, dh, ds, and dd and $200 for my and dh's immediate family ($100 each family). NO MORE!!!

 

[mrudman]

I know.. this place makes me buy so much more than I would if I stayed off of it, lol!! But there's so many good deals that people post, something I just can't help it.

Right now, I've been saving cash in an envelope which needs to cover both dd's Christmas and birthday gifts... so hoping by doing it this way, if I'm outta cash, I don't buy anymore.

But try telling that to me in another month or 2 when I'm seeing things I know dd's would like, and I can't help myself, lol!

 

[tinkarooni]

Congratulations on laying out a budget for the holidays, that's the hardest step. I just try to avoid the "good deal" threads around here if I can. I don't even click on them.

One way I avoid buying too much is I spend all of fall cleaning out and decluttering, ugg, I'm in the middle and I certainly don't want more stuff in my house, it keeps me on the straight and narrow.

Good Luck!

 

[sydneysmom]

Oh I hear you !!! This place will make you broke with everything you find that you can't live without !

We're flying home for Christmas and the airfare is alot. ( we just got back from a week at Disney so we're trying to go back to "save mode") So, we all decided that we're just doing gifts for the kids this year. All of the adults have all that we need. I'm actually going to frame a nice pic of us for my parents.... that's something they'll love more than a sweater.

So we're also going VERY light on the Christmas shopping this year..... so I'm joining this support group !!

 

[Smile4Me]

I'm in! I try to start shopping early to spread the cost out,,and what happens is I keep finding cool stuff or take requests into account and just spend more!
This year is different because we are saving for a house and a trip back to WDW. So we are sticking to our list and budget no matter how many times I find the next "perfect gift"! In fact I already started, me and my two sisters chipped in together to get our younger brother a football jersey,,,got it on sale opening weekend...last weekend my sister and I were shopping and I came across some sports themed notebooks for $1 and $2 a piece..bought $12 worth, completely forgetting I had already bought his gift...so instead of saying I'll save them for his birthday next year or a nephew's christmas gift (which I already got too!) I took them back and used the refund to put gas in my car!!

We can do this!

 

[maggieusa]

I am in I have a budget of 1000 dollars for my son, DIL Daughter 2 grandchildren, hubby, MIL, and brother I am hoping to come in under budget and save the overflow for next year.

 

[wgwtgb]

I'm in! I try to start shopping early to spread the cost out,,and what happens is I keep finding cool stuff or take requests into account and just spend more!

This is soooo me!!! I thought I was the only one who shopped MORE b/c of all the deals found here!!!

 

[Kay1]

Our main gift(s) will be travel so we'll be getting quite a few Disney and Universal gift cards. For presents under the tree, I buy a lot of secondhand DVDs and books. I try not to go overboards and bring a lot of stuff in the house.

 

[timzagain]

I need to join this thread too.

The good deals posted on the "Budget Board" have caused me to go over budget too. I had planned to cut back on our Christmas spending this year. Then someone mentioned the new iPods here on the Budget Board, which I, in turn, mentioned to my husband. Suddenly the only gift on the planet worthy of my DD12 is an iPod Touch. Of course, DH isn't thinking about the 8G model - when it comes to tech stuff, he always assumes that bigger is better.

I'd been considering less expensive alternative (a digital camera - on sale) but I've not been successful in convincing my husband.

It's a good thing I've already bought most of my other gifts under budget (husband and kids not included)!

We're going to have some major, unplanned expenses over the next few weeks, so it's even more imperative that we keep our Christmas spending under control

 

[bettymae1121]

Gifts I don't have a problem with, I set a $ amount for each person and I do a great job of not going over.

My issue is with decorations for the house!!!

I try stick to buying stuff the day after Christmas so I at least get it on clearance, but if I see something I really want, I'll buy it in November or December because I'm worried it will sell out and not make it to the clearance rack.

This year I've budgeted money for the house and will to my best to stick with it. The more I buy before Christmas, the less I have to spend on Christmas clearance so hopefully that will keep me from buying too much before it all goes on sale after the holidays.

 

[tinker&belle]

Last year what really helped us was (like a pp mentioned) was we set a dollar amount for each person and tried to stick to it. Sure there were a few people that to get that perfect gift it was a little more, but with bargain shopping for others it pretty much evened out for us. I think I had a budget of $900 and spent $930 or something like that.

 

[timzagain]

Gifts I don't have a problem with, I set a $ amount for each person and I do a great job of not going over.

My issue is with decorations for the house!!!

I try stick to buying stuff the day after Christmas so I at least get it on clearance, but if I see something I really want, I'll buy it in November or December because I'm worried it will sell out and not make it to the clearance rack.

This year I've budgeted money for the house and will to my best to stick with it. The more I buy before Christmas, the less I have to spend on Christmas clearance so hopefully that will keep me from buying too much before it all goes on sale after the holidays.

I can empathize. My husband thinks I need a 12-step program for my Christmas decoration problem. I wandered into a nearby hardware store today to find some Christmas decorations at 50% off. It took every ounce of my willpower to step away from the display without buying anything! I must have looked like a crazy person, as I wandered through the store telling myself audibly, "Remember - No decorations this year! You need another Christmas ornament like you need a hole in the head!"

I felt really good about my ability to resist temptation!

 

[jbear'smommy]

I have the exact opposite problem. I have a hard time spending my budget for DS. I have to buy him a present from us (DH makes me), santa and the in laws. The in laws live far away so it's easier if I buy and wrap instead of them shipping. They send me $250. My DS isn't currently into anything nor does he have anything particular that he wants. So far I've spent $75. Looks like the in laws are gonna be sending him a lot of disney dollars this year.

 

[superme80]

Mine is baking. I LOVE baking and I LOVE grocery shopping!!! I think we are staying home this year, so it gives me a chance to go a little overboard and spoil my boys!!!! As long as I get all my stuff in advance and then make DH do all the grocery shopping for December I SHOULD be ok.

 

[LilyWDW]

I don't really budget a dollar amount, but rather I make a list and stick to it. The only things I use a dollar amount for are for the gift baskets of treats that I make for my boyfriend and for his parents. I try to keep them at the $50 range each because I also then add in cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, and snack mix that I make at home.

 

[I Believe n Fairies]

I am SO there!! We don't set a dollar amount to spend, but we always try to be conservative. Actually, today, I ordered the last thing for my ds and a couple things for my dd. The only thing left to buy for my kids is an American Girl doll for my dd (waiting on free shipping code).

It feel great to be done shopping for ds!! DH and I usually do not exchange gifts, if we do, it's something small. Already have things for half of my nieces and nephews, so a couple more for them and then my inlaws and I'm DONE!

 

[2busy4life]

This year is very different for us as we are doing our first trip to Florida ever!!!

We decided that to afford to do this we are not buying any gifts and do not want anything from anyone else. I know some might think that is pretty cold and how can you do that but this has been a mutual family decision. Hopefully it will not be too difficult for us all. Since we are going to be away we thought that we would do something cool on Christmas day so it will still be a special day.

Christmas budget = 0.00

 

[PrincessParty]

I so need this thread. Today I passed on, and it was very difficult, the Vera Bradley Villager bag for $29.00. It was an amazing deal and my DDs would have loved them, but they were not in my budget or on my list for them. I am sticking to the list/budget this year!

 

[smkiya]

Reel me in! Reel me in!!!

I've gotten everything on DS's list this week (except clothes), and I'm getting all of these coupons and special offers!!! I still have a few things to get DD, but she hasn't given me her real list yet.

It's only October 1st!!!!!!!!

 

[I Believe n Fairies]

Thanks to a 10% off code for American Girl, I am officially done shopping for me kids. Kinda weird, but what a nice feeling. Now, we can focus on saving and planning for our May trip to WDW.