I love Christmas but this year I'm really trying to stay on a budget. And I know how easy it is to blow a budget around Christmas time so I have come up with a plan. First, I know how caught up I can get in the season, not just the presents but the whole season. I love all the activities of Christmas, getting and decorating the tree, baking cookies, looking at Christmas lights and yes I love shopping for presents. To get rid of any impulse buying I may feel, I sat down with Shane and we made a shopping list for all of the kids. Then I went in September and put everything that I could in Lay-A-Way. One thing I have learned is that the best way not to spend money is to stay out of stores! So now all I have left for the little ones is one present for Lily and three for Kyle. I can pay for the Lay-A-Way through the checkout or maybe even online. I put Donna's present in Lay-A-Way. I need to get gifts for my sister's family, brother's family and my parents. I'm not sure what I am getting Ashley. When I figure it out I'll either put it in Lay-A-Way or buy it straight out. I plan on two more shopping trips this year. I usually buy individual gifts for all my nieces and nephews but this year I plan on buying 1 gift for the whole family. Some of the ideas I am kicking around are games, a family pass to the zoo or museum, or gift certificates for dinner and a movie. I'm really excited to be starting early this year. And I'm really determined to not get carried away with presents.
How do all of ya'll stay on a budget during Christmas time?
If you found this post interesting or helpful , please share it!
How do all of ya'll stay on a budget during Christmas time?
If you found this post interesting or helpful , please share it!
2 comments:
I am using layaway for the first time this year. We always start the year with a budget and a game plan. But it's so easy to pick up a little something here and there, and not realize how much those "little somethings" add up to!
This year I am staying away from the crazy sales unless I'm looking for something specific...I'm not going to go for the sake of going. Which yes, is something I like to do, lol.
I have also vowed to try and stay out of the stores as much as possible. I am going to make my layaway payments online (my online shopping is pretty much Amazon only) to avoid the temptation of adding "one more thing" to my layaway. Fingers crossed we stay on track this year. :D
Good luck! I look forward to checking back with you and seeing how you do. :)
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Katie
I have the same problem of buying just one more little thing. The problem with that for us though is if I buy one more for one kid I have to buy one more for all the kids!
I love your blog! So many good ideas.
Thanks for stopping by.
Betty
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