Comments on: Turning Attention to Christmas Bills

By: Jenn

Jenn — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:09:10 +0000

Like all parts of my life, Christmas is managed on an Excel spreadsheet. I have a list of those I shop for year after year. In the column beside each name I enter gift suggestions, and in the third column I enter the gift actually purchased. After Christmas I take all the suggestions which were not used and move them to the list for the next Christmas. For kids the ideas may not be viable a year later, but for many adults it’s nice to have a few suggestions already in mind. Having the lists of what I bought in prior years ensures I never repeat a gift. By having next year’s list ready to go days after this Christmas there’s no excuse to delay the shopping. I aim to have all my shopping done by Halloween at the latest. I hate shopping and facing holiday crowds at the mall is equivalent to a root canal. By spreading the purchases out from Dec 26th to the end of October there’s no reason it can’t easily be accomodated in the regular budget.

By: renee

renee — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:41:39 +0000

To go in debt at christmas time to me is just ridicolous! (sp). I take $50 out of my check every two weeks for six months and that is all I will spend on christmas. I don’t understand why people would go in debt for presents. Why not make some homemade cookies, bread, etc.,. For the past few years after buying all my christmas presents I have about $100 left in my christmas fund so I put it in my emergency fund.

By: TStrump

TStrump — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:27:28 +0000

Feeling the pain of Christmas spending, too.
Ended up bying last-minute gifts for a few people out of a slight feeling of guilt …
Look out New Years!

By: Valerie

Valerie — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 18:41:16 +0000

You have some great tips here. The key to saving money is to plan ahead, and it is never to early to start planning for next Christmas!

Valerie
Frugal Family Fun Blog
Good times on a budget!
http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com

By: Curt

Curt — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 04:38:13 +0000

Excellent tips. If you are realy good at planning, you can take advantage of the after Christmas saving to purchase gift for your children next year. We usually save quite a bit, but this year the discounts are even deeper.

By: ethan

ethan — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 03:44:47 +0000

Excellent tips. Thankfully I won’t need them because I managed to do Christmas in all cash this year. The feeling is amazing.

By: Ron@TheWisdomJournal

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:23:05 +0000

You know, probably the weakest link in your list of suggestions is the last one. It really doesn’t do any good to get out of debt, or pay off your bills (Christmas or otherwise) if you just go right back into debt all over again.

I won’t “break” those habits … ever. Seems the harder I try to “break” a habit, the more entrenched it becomes. The key for me was to replace them with good and healthy habits.

By: Laksh - Making money with Social Networks

Laksh - Making money with Social Networks — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:39:06 +0000

Hi,
This was a good post. I have been here for the first time after seeing your comment on Darren’s post on Problogger. It really set me up n inspired a lot to start from small. Thx a lot.

Laksh – Making money with Social Networks
http://tinyurl.com/5n9eby