Do you have a Christmas Account?

[Ima saver]

Re: Do you have a Christmas Account?

I started mine so far back, that it was only 50 cents a week, then a dollar a week. I also remember when I saved all my green stamps and redeemed them for christmas presents.

[robex]

Re: Do you have a Christmas Account?

We put $100.00 a month into an account for Christmas. We also save all our Superstore points and use them in December for groceries for our yearly Open House...usually ends up being approximately $200 in points!

[nanamom]

Re: Do you have a Christmas Account?

I shop all year long. Most of my Christmas gifts will be homemade this year so I have to start early. I look on ebay as well and at yard sales so my kids and grandkids know to ask early! One year when we were really broke and DS1 and DD were young I did all the Christmas shopping at yard sales for about $15.00 total. Needless to say they loved their gifts that Christmas!

[boefixepa]

Re: Do you have a Christmas Account?

I budget $50 a month and it sits in my 4% savings-this goes mostly for family members. I also use my CC points and cash them for grift certificates to different stores and then give them as gifts. I make homemade tamales and give them out to friends and neighbors. A lot of bang for the buck and everyone loves them.

I think more important than all the cost of gifts is to teach your children that Christmas is NOT an event for you to get everything you want. I believe parents set themselves up for the debt they get themselves into. Some needed clothes and a few toys that are not outlandish should be enough to more than please a well balanced child. This will help with the budget more than anything else!

Boefixepa

[eisor]

Re: Do you have a Christmas Account?

We aren't big on Christmas in my house. Growing up in a big family, without a lot of money really teaches you it is the thought that counts. We don't give gifts to extended family. My mom from a family of 17 and my dad a family of 7. We've never given gifts to the extended family. I don't give gifts to any of my friends because barely any of them are christians. This just leaves my immediate family. Since there's so many of us we always just give something small to each other. I am frugle and usualy don't end up spending more than what I have budgeted for gifts. So, I don't need to do any special budgeting for christmas. It makes it a lot easier.