Christmas Budget

[mother christmas]

Do you have one and do you stick with it?

I have a budget for lights and always stick within that budget. I also have a budget on what I spend on the nephews, neice, aunts and uncles stay within that budget not bad sometimes I do go over by $15 or $20. As for with the kids and husband that budget is always out of the amount I set for them. My food budget is pretty good as well, we have an Air Miles card that we save points on and I always get gift certificates for my local grocery store and that is what I use for all the christmas day food shopping.

[Shelle02]

If we can afford it, $50 per kid. $50 for food...I make everything homemade except the ham, lol. If we can't afford it....we deal with it anyway we can.

[WSugerfoot2]

I don't usually have a budget, I mean we aren't rich, but I don't sit down and figure out what I can spend...I should do it that way, but usually I just do what I can week to week.

[ElfSpirit]

I guess it's not so much a budget as a "fund"...I save money each year and use that for presents. That usually works out well for me.

[DoubleA]

Christmas is my time of year to let loose so I try to not go crazy overboard on things, but there are some things I need for the party, friends family and all that good stuff.

[primchristmas]

I buy gifts throughout the year,so we dont have that many to buy in December ..........we have alot going on in December ..........Tanners birthday is on the 11th ,Dustins birthday is on the 9th ,Ashtons, is on the 26th, and oldest sons,and my sweet daughter-in-law's Anniversary is the 28th ..........needless to say it is a month that I really am on a budget!!

[ChristmasFanatic]

When I was still able to work and getting tons of OT, this time of year, I never had a worry about Christmas gift-buying. Now that I can't work and I'm living on a fixed income, I should really budget, but I don't. We spend a lot of time trying to buy nice gifts for the family, we layaway as much as we can and pick the other gifts up along the way.

The worst problem I have, these days is, trying to figure out what to get some members of the family! Kids always seem easy and teens are, too, but the adults can really be tough! I think I'm so easy, all I ask for is DVDs and a few other ideas, but folks tell me that I'm not as easy as I think. Go figure!

[lightitup]

Who puts up the outdoor decorations CB or you CF? Did you hurt yourself working all those hours before? What type of work do you do? Maybe you can get into graphic art. Then you could design a new website for me. LOL Okay only joking. But seriously I hope you are okay.
I do have a Christmas budget. What ever I can talk hubby out of I get. I spend it on Christmas. LOL
Seriously I do have a budget it is called my paycheck.

[MarthaK]

I have a Christmas budget alright. I starts out green and turns red, LOL.

No, I don't have a budget but I do stay within my limits. Thankfully, there are plenty of areas where I can cut back before it comes to the important things like gifts, cards & the holiday meals.

[WSugerfoot2]

I don't use credit cards, so I always stay within my means...I also do start my shopping early...I started it in July this year....I am cutting back the kids gifts though (I always say that, lets see if I actually stick to it lol)

[lightitup]

My shopping is going to the bank and getting gift cards for the teen grankids and for the parents of the two little ones to go and get there gifts. If they come here well that is a different story. I will buy lots of stuff to fill up there big vehicles.

[*Tessmas*]

l never budget, i just use my wages(there isnt much of that left over on a "normal" month!)but l also go into my savings, which l dont mind-as long as my friends and family have a smile on their faces-thats all that matters.

[ChristmasFanatic]

Who puts up the outdoor decorations CB or you CF? Did you hurt yourself working all those hours before? What type of work do you do? Maybe you can get into graphic art. Then you could design a new website for me. LOL Okay only joking. But seriously I hope you are okay.

We usually do any decorating outside as a joint effort, although I tend to lack patience, so CB often does that and I tend to the inside.

I was diagnosed with Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes (insulin dependent) about 13 years ago. I continued working after being diagnosed, until my health wouldn't allow me to stay healthy for any extended period of time. This will probably put a lot of folks off, but when I was working, I worked at a beef processing plant. I also delivered mail on a rural route, part time. I have to say, working at the plant, I did a few jobs, women had never done in my department and my supervisors and such were great to me, trying to keep me healthy by having me do our department paperwork, in an effort to keep me out of the cold temps. I sustained a couple of injuries at work and had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, but in the end, it was my health that made it impossible to work.

Thanks for your well wishes!

[Christy Carol]

Compared to last year we are definitely on a budget. Things are getting better with gas prices coming down but how about the groceries now?

Our biggest budget cut are the presents. We are drawing names instead of buying a gift for everyone. Plus I am hoping that Goldie, Mom and myself can go food shopping together. That way none of us are over burdened in the grocery department since that is where our largest expense will be. I am sure we will all go out to eat atleast once but most of what we do is cook, eat, cook, eat...uh...cook, eat!! LOL!!

[whitney37354]

$100-Gifts from Santa for Deanna
$25-Gifts from Santa for Deanna's stocking
$100-Patrick
$25-Patrick's stocking
$25-each family member
$15-I have one friend I exchange gifts with every year since jr. high
$10-each daycare & Sunday School teacher, Operation Christmas Child shoebox, step-nieces
$25-Angel Tree

1st year being married it was $1.00/person. For a few years after that it was $10/person. It's been $25/person for a few years now.

[buffettchristmas]

well, I generally just have to buy a present for my parents. my parents and i pitch in for my grandparents...


when I had a girlfriend, I generally spent around 300 combined on a bunch of little things.... they sure add up quick..

but since I'm single I can put that money toward the SKY fund

[lightitup]

We usually do any decorating outside as a joint effort, although I tend to lack patience, so CB often does that and I tend to the inside.

I was diagnosed with Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes (insulin dependent) about 13 years ago. I continued working after being diagnosed, until my health wouldn't allow me to stay healthy for any extended period of time. This will probably put a lot of folks off, but when I was working, I worked at a beef processing plant. I also delivered mail on a rural route, part time. I have to say, working at the plant, I did a few jobs, women had never done in my department and my supervisors and such were great to me, trying to keep me healthy by having me do our department paperwork, in an effort to keep me out of the cold temps. I sustained a couple of injuries at work and had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, but in the end, it was my health that made it impossible to work.

Thanks for your well wishes!
I have a friend that has lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. I know the pain she is in on a daily basis. I am sorry to hear you have to endure that pain. I don't even know what she would do if she had diabetes with it. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Budgets do work when you break them down like that Whitney. For me they don't work so I just spend till hubby says that is enough. LOL

[savingstar]

I usually set an amount that i spend on everyone i usually stick to most of it until it comes to a couple of days before christmas when loads of gifts get marked down half price.

[ChristmasFanatic]

I have a friend that has lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. I know the pain she is in on a daily basis. I am sorry to hear you have to endure that pain. I don't even know what she would do if she had diabetes with it. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Thanks very much, LIU. Good thoughts and prayers are always appreciated.

[YodaPHX]

Normally I break the bank every Christmas on spending. Last year I was embrassed to see how much I spent. Not just before christmas but the after christmas sales too. Actually I spent more after christmas than I did before, and that was all on me. I bought a big screen TV and an elaborate entertainment center to hold it. I could have bought a car with cash if I added it all up. The good news is I put it all on credit card, but always pay it off when the bill is due so I didn't over spend.

Now this year is going to be different. I am canceling christmas for all adults. ONly the kids will get presents this year. I still need to let everyone know so they don't buy me anything.

Now with the bad economy and my feeling that this Christmas is going to be horrible for retailers I got a feeling there will be great after christmas sales. I'm going to try to restrain myself, but I don't know if I can if the deals are that good.

[ChristmasFanatic]

I don't think I've ever really had a budget at Christmas. I probably would be better off if I did, but it seems once you're shopping and laying away gifts, you always see more and more you want to get for folks and it's really hard to stop.

One thing we do have fun with is the tradition of doing stockings on New Year's Eve, this way, we often hit a lot of the after Christmas sales and can have quite a lot of fun with the stockings.

[WSugerfoot2]

Normally I break the bank every Christmas on spending. Last year I was embrassed to see how much I spent. Not just before christmas but the after christmas sales too. Actually I spent more after christmas than I did before, and that was all on me. I bought a big screen TV and an elaborate entertainment center to hold it. I could have bought a car with cash if I added it all up. The good news is I put it all on credit card, but always pay it off when the bill is due so I didn't over spend.

Now this year is going to be different. I am canceling christmas for all adults. ONly the kids will get presents this year. I still need to let everyone know so they don't buy me anything.

Now with the bad economy and my feeling that this Christmas is going to be horrible for retailers I got a feeling there will be great after christmas sales. I'm going to try to restrain myself, but I don't know if I can if the deals are that good.



I love the after christmas sales!!!