Christmas

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Christmas

I would love to, but kids with their fandangled technology moving so fast now... I sort of have to wait and see what happens. (I can't believe I'm saying this, because not too long ago, I was one of those "kids". )

[Bluezy]

Re: Christmas

I will begin next month. CJ's new bicycle is top on the list as well as a new guitar. The rest are little goodies that I can get throughout the season.

[Ima saver]

Re: Christmas

All I have bought it a few pair of jeans and a few shirts for my husband. I just don't have any ideas!! Any suggestions??

[rob62521]

Re: Christmas

I bought Christmas cards right after Christmas very cheap as well as some bags. I've bought a couple of things here and there for people when we out and about. We have almost $500 in our Christmas Club so when I do have to shop, it will be paid for and no after Christmas bills.

[Ima saver]

Re: Christmas

I think I have around $800 saved up for christmas, so nothing will be charged!

[LuxLiving]

Re: Christmas

All I have bought it a few pair of jeans and a few shirts for my husband. I just don't have any ideas!! Any suggestions??

Yes I do - take that man on a mini or Major Vacation!!! He deserves it!

[Jewelsmom]

Re: Christmas

With just 4 months to go until Christmas, has anyone started shopping yet?

I get tired of trying to come up with unique gift ideas to create the perfect Christmas for everyone. So three yrs ago I came across an idea that works great for my family of mall-savy teenage girls.

Our immediate family's Christmas budget is $1000.

I give each daughter $100 to spend on each sibling and $50 for the parents (=$250 in an envelope). My husand and I together spend $50 on each child, and an additional $50 on each other (=$250 total).

We budget for this monthly ($50 bi-weekly deposit into a designated savings account Jan - Nov).

We have two or three weekends of shopping after Thanksgiving with the girls. They also go shopping in groups of 2 to buy for the 3rd sister.

Rules:
You can "pool" your money for a "big-ticket item
But, you must buy at least 5 gifts per sibling, from each sister
Save all receipts in the envelope (for returns if necessary)

This solution has created a perfect Win-Win Christmas for all.

They know best what each other likes, needs, and wants.
They get to shop sales with money to spend; experience the joy of giving and receiving; learn valuable lessons about budgeting; and I work within a managable budget.

It's a real no-brainer for us now. I love that the pressure of Christmas shopping is off my shoulders. The girls even proudly do the gift wrapping.

Last year I decided to give them each $25 extra to buy for "extended family." They chose family gifts (boxes of candy, etc.).
All our out-of-town gifts were bought and shipped (by them) before December 1. I paid the shipping.

[rob62521]

Re: Christmas

Way to go, Ima!

[nanamom]

Re: Christmas

I started last January. I do alot of sewing and that needs to be started early. I am almost done.

[med12]

Re: Christmas

DH has a big family and we have tried to come up with ways to scale back but they are resisting the change to the tradition. So, between his family and mine, we look at about $1k in presents. But, I have told DH that if I don't get a job this year - we are cancelling Christmas and only buying for the kids in the family and even that will be expensive but not nearly as bad as buying for all the adults. We'll just have to see what happens. Either way - I want to be done with the shopping by Thanksgiving.

[Ima saver]

Re: Christmas

I am going to walmart's today, maybe I can find something for christmas!

[JoyJoy]

Re: Christmas

As usual Ima, great topic!!

We have received our Christmas cards already from National Geographic.

We are using the points we amassed from our Amex Gold Rewards Card for the first time this year. I will probably order our gifts this week as Amex is cutting out the free S&H soon.

I will continue to watch this post for ideas as to what to buy DH since he is retired now. For our three sons it will be cash.

My gift is easy. Loungerie and Chanel #19 lotion and spray!

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Christmas

yes, but I am not done

I like to be done by Thanksgiving

[tabbycat31]

Re: Christmas

I already know what I am getting my family. AT the beach that we frequent, daily passes are $7, season passes $60 each, but if you buy them before Thanksgiving, then $30 each.

So I'm getting everyone a beach pass (before Thanksgiving)

[Great to be Debt Free]

Re: Christmas

Dh gets paid every 2 weeks, so 2 months a year, we get an "extra" paycheck. One is designated for gifts, the other for "vacations and trips."

Fortunately, both our families have created wasy to scale down for Christmas. In DH's family, we draw names and there's a $30 limit. So that's $30 for the name I draw and $30 for the name DH draws. And of course we buy for parents.

In my family, everyone that wants to participate (including my sis's boyfriend, and my bro's girlfriend) brings a wrapped gift with a value of $30. And then we do the gift exchange where you draw numbers and can either open a new gift or "steal" from someone else.

Last year I also got beatiful knitted scarves on sale and with a coupon fromNew York and Co. They ended up costing me 99cents each. I'll use these to wrap the Grandmother's and moms gift in.

I do have to get cards though -- Dh was in charge of that and I can't send the ones he got -- (Santa with reindeers, one smaller than the rest -- inside reads, "Damn Spare"). I sold those at a garage sale to a young guy (go figure). So now I need to find some somewhere -- and I hate it b/c they wont' be on good sale! UGH!