The last few days before Christmas have always blown my holiday budget. I have planned my gifts. I have spent my holiday budget and all I need to do is make it through the next few days. I’ve been patting myself on the back for staying in budget and this year even a little ahead of the curve.
Now if I can just make it through the next few days. Historically, right before Christmas when I start wrapping the gifts and putting them under the tree. Sorting through what I got for each child or sibling, I start to realize that one person got more than all the rest. Usually just because I found more things that I thought they would want. When I realize that one child has 10 small gifts and the others only have 3, I panic. I end up running to the store just so that they will have a somewhat even amount of gifts to open. Not expensive things, just little things to even out the numbers.
Or I realize that I have forgotten stocking stuffers, maybe some candy canes or coloring books. Or I realize that I have not gotten groceries for Christmas dinner. Or there is a pot luck at work. There always seem to be last minute traps that suck me in and break my budget.
This year I am ready. The kids are grown so I don’t have to worry about playing Santa Claus. I don’t have to worry about gifts for co workers or pot luck lunches. I have my list and I have covered it twice. We are not cooking a family Christmas dinner so I don’t have to worry about groceries.
I have baked cookies all week and I think I completed my 20th dozen yesterday. The cookies are not only for us to enjoy but also to give as gifts to several of our friends. Our single friends enjoy the homemade cookies more than just about anything else that we could give them. Another of our friends has been ill and I know that she has not felt well enough to bake so we are taking several dozen cookies over to her family.
I think I’m safe. I think I have covered every possible temptation. Do you give in to last minute budget breakers?
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Tags: budget busters, Christmas, Holiday
Here here, yes I can attest to last minute budget busting. We changed things up a bit this year too. We use to spend a certain amount on each kid, but would feel like one was getting skimped because they only had 3 and the other had 10..even if the amount was the same. So this year we limited the number and gave no amount. They each got three simple gifts. I bought stocking stuffers out of my left over food money. So I am happy to report….that with having a set amount of gifts I am not stuck feeling guilty or worried!
I almost gave into the temptation this year to buy presents for some people who will be attending the Christmas lunch I’m going to. I was told and now know they are getting me a gift. This was NOT a present exchanging kind of meal and was feeling the need to rush out and reciprocate. Thankfully, that moment has passed. I have given in to the last minute pressure (real or imagined) and have spent more than I could or should. I pretty much stuck to my list except for a couple very small variations from it (like 2 less than $10 each).
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