Saving for Christmas

[pennypinchingmom]

My daughter, age 29, and I have always had a tradition of going out shopping the day after Christmas. We buy all of our wrapping paper and cards for the next season, and we begin to purchase some gifts, too. I always did this with my mom when she was alive. This year, I have saved my change all year, and I plan to use it for our annual trek to the mall. I have already accumulated over $120.00, which my daughter counts and rolls up whenever she visits. She started law school this year, so that money will really help her to buy her cards and begin to get some gifts. Last year she bought all of her cousins' kids Christmas books marked down 50% while we shopped December 26th. We always have fun, and we have fun saving money, too!

[buildmybudget]

That's great, what a great plan that you guys stick to each year!

[Ima saver]

I started a christmas club at a bank when I was in my early 20's. I still do this now, but not at a bank. I put aside $30 a week and keep track of it inside an interest paying savings account. I use to buy all my wrapping paper on sale the day after christmas also. A few years ago, I ordered many many gifts bags on sale at QVC and now I re use them every year.

[Radiance]

I'm kinda skipping chirstmas this year.
I will buy a tree ($30) and use whatever decoration I have from last year.
I set aside $20 to get some toys for my son.
Family and friends know my situation so nobody is expecting gifts, nor am I expecting any either.
I don't have any family nearby, which makes it easier to skip on gifts.
Last year was about the same.

[sgfinancialfreedom]

Great tip on saving money for Christmas shopping. I never knew prices were so marked down on Dec 26th.

[Donna73]

I always go shopping the day after christmas too, buy cards, gift wrap and any gifts i think will do for birthdays or the following christmas, especially pj's for my nephews and cousins girls just buy the next size or 2 up. Also any toiletries from the likes of the body shop or Boots (equivelent of Walgreens in the uk). Also any decorations for the tree or the house, i do this buy saving £2 aday (thats about $3) that gives me about £700 by christmas to buy everything and also treat myself to something nice

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

In the last ten years or so, I do not find after Christmas sales of paper, ribbon, decorations, etc to be any better than the pre-Christmas sales. They used to be better, but not any more. Plus, there is far less choice after Christmas.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

This is stupid, but my cousins used to wrap presents in the sunday paper comics. They would save it all yea and wrap presents. I do it because I'm cheap and it reminds me of my aunt and uncle and cousins.

[PrincessPerky]

I think comics are a great wrapping paper, my son once got a way cool gift wrapped in old 'air charts' dunno how many folk have access to them, but if you do, they are nifty.

Maps are fun too. Mostly I reuse bags others give me, or I have a few sewn bags that fold as flat as thick wrapping paper, dunno why but the gathered frumpy bags I just can't do - I like clean lines on my presents!

Last year I also made some Christmas boxes out of old Christmas cards, was a lot of fun, and perfect for small gifts (kid made jewelry or ornaments)

I do tend to go the week after Christmas and get a few items, last year we found some extra lights (that we really needed -heh, yeah sure, life or death to have enough lights!) This year we may do the same, or may go with fewer lights than desired for another year (have 'needed' lights for oh 5 years now?)

[TermMonster]

Lot's of resteraunts will offer free gift cards if you fill out a survey. Sit down, order a cup of coffee and get a $10-20 gift card in the mail! Frugal gift giving at its finest!

[junosama]

There are a lot of printing companies giving away free printing this time of year. Try searching google for like greeting card giveaways and such or free printing.

[msi56]

We like to save up throughout the year so that when Christmas comes around it is not such a big 1 month expense on the credit card, etc.

[zhuwh]

I think it's a good way to save money , we can buy the books with the money , which we usual spend it on the gifts . this is more meaningful .

[frugalfarmwife]

I actually Christmas shop all through the year, just watch for clearance and discount items! I just bought a gorgous set of 12 wine glasses with gold rims for $5.00 on clearance, origionally $39 dollars. I also got 2 gorgeous cashmere throws for just $3.00 each, again final clearance.

I also shop right after Christmas and often get items for up to 90% off, just keep them put away for the year.

[Debt Relief]

Originally Posted by pennypinchingmom

My daughter, age 29, and I have always had a tradition of going out shopping the day after Christmas. We buy all of our wrapping paper and cards for the next season, and we begin to purchase some gifts, too. I always did this with my mom when she was alive. This year, I have saved my change all year, and I plan to use it for our annual trek to the mall. I have already accumulated over $120.00, which my daughter counts and rolls up whenever she visits. She started law school this year, so that money will really help her to buy her cards and begin to get some gifts. Last year she bought all of her cousins' kids Christmas books marked down 50% while we shopped December 26th. We always have fun, and we have fun saving money, too!

This is a great idea. It is amazing how much money you can accumulate by collection change from your pockets, floorboard of cars, under cushions of you couch and chairs, etc.

The after Christmas sales (especially for evergreen items like wrapping paper, bows, ornaments, etc.) are great even when you don't plan to use the items for another year.

Good for you. Enjoy the windfall AND the shopping!

[Debt Vigilante]

My wife and I budgeted $100/month for family birthdays and miscellaneous holidays such as mother's day/father's day. The months that we dont have any birthdays or holidays, we take the money and put it in a Christmas fund. That way when Christmas comes, we can give generously and we really dont feel any financial repercussions.

[nick__45]

I think it is great that your daughter started law school. I heard it is not hard, just expensive and a lot of work. It takes a special kind of person to be a lawyer. I thought about becoming one but I despise most lawyers so I didn't want to be involved with such profession. There are good ones (not just the ones winning cases) out there and serve society well.

My suggestion is to use E-cards, which are free instead of regular cards. Most people throw cards away after a few weeks anyway. I haven't bought a card since I got married.

Christmas isn't about giving. I originally thought about getting myself a watch because I really want one and my current Seiko Kinetic isn't holding charge that well since I stopped wearing it a few times for extended period. I want to get something fancy from Citizen that only need light to stay charged. However, I changed my mind and will get my cousin a same watch instead. He's finishing up college and will do his MBA while working full-time at a very good printing cooperation. His mother is a saint and probably the best mom anyone can ask for so I am rewarding him that. Most kids now don't even wear watch so I have to ask him if he really want a watch. They use cellphone for time and I think it is a silly notion. A man needs to own a good watch and a good shoe and suit. That will run me probably 500 dollars, which blew my Christmas stash.

My family doesn't care for gifts as we buy what we need when we find a deal. The idea of getting gift is quite upsetting for me. I bought my sister a lot of stuffs when she was a baby and my daughter get them now. But it is amazing the amount of stuffs she get throughout the year. I prefer educational gifts as they are actually meaningful instead of low value trinkets. My daughter only want stuffs if they are at the store, she doesn't bother with them once they get home so we don't get her anything. And somehow she has toy that can fill up a typical 800 sq-ft family, which we turned playroom/family.

[nick__45]

Originally Posted by zhuwh

I think it's a good way to save money , we can buy the books with the money , which we usual spend it on the gifts . this is more meaningful .

Books are good and I spend a decent amount on books. One is to support the local Borders, which we use more often than library because it has a 300 times better of a selection and I also buy from a good used book place in downtown that employ college students. I don't sell books though because I only buy good books and they can be read more than once.

[vipmerchantaccount]

If I can also add since Christmas is near the timing couldn't be more perfect. What I did last December 2007 is that I opened another checking account outside of my main checking account and every payday (I'm getting my salary every two weeks) I requested a transfer of $15.00 to that account in this way the money cannot be spent and I can have a good overview of my bills. You can expect also around $400.00 before Christmas which you can use. Currently, I converted my checking account to a custodial savings account for my kid. The custodial savings account functions as my christmas fund account and a savings for my kid as well. What's good about this type of savings account is that it doesn't have any maintaining fees or balance.

[moneybags]

You can also get Christmas wrapping paper to use year round. I can always find something that doesn't look "holiday" to use for birthdays throughout the year.