Re: $5,000 Christmas
Do you count the fancy dinner? cause the many fancy diners is part of my 2 grand. One for my father one for my mothers side, one for my husbands side, one for the party dinner (I like my friends) Fortunatly I have never been known for style so no one minds if I wear the same stuff I had in highschool, no fancy dress cost. Although I do have friends over once a month at least so it isn't that much more than a normal month of entertaining.
Also only 350 is gifts for the family, I wouldn't pay those magazine prices either. The rest of the gift grand is for extended family and friends. I origionally was going to post it was only 500 but then I started adding up all the presents for this person and that person and the extra goodies (I bake half of the presents) and let me tell you chocolate even on sale costs alot more than I thought. I don't however spend 2000 all at once, a little here a little there. some extra sugar one week, more stamps another. (oops I need stamps) did you know that 100 cards costs 37$(in the US) to mail? ('course you can multiply 37 by 100 as well as I can, but did you?) Plus all the thank yous to people, only 10$ but each little thing for christmas really does add up. I make our christmas cards, not sure if it is cheaper to print out 100 cards or not but everyone likes the newsletter style. at 20 for ink(need more of that too) and 20 for paper, plus stamps we are almost up to 100 right there.
Oh and the visit to go see my brother, and the extra food for his family (they expect pop! around here that is 4 or 5$ a case!) Admitedly I do include Thanksgiving in the 2 grand, turkey might be cheap, but all the trimmings?
How about pictures? We get them done twice a year for family. The pictures themselves are only 50 (with disk) but then we have to make sure everyone is in apropriate clothing, easy for mom and dad, not so easy for kids who grow like weeds. Then we have to mail the pictures to people. (we are cheap, only mail 'em to his mom and mine, they are in charge of distribution after that.) Yes it would be cheaper to have a quality printer at home and do them ourselves, but my husband is the best photographer and I want him in the picture, and I don't have the quality printer yet.
Anyway, I suppose 2000 sounds like alot, but I don't have a problem entertaining or spending money on small things for everyone (usually I see the same toys played with year after year, so it doesn't seem like a waste) And no one seems to mind the fudge or pumpkin bread.
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