Christmas shopping

[ahunter1]

So how's it going ladies? Are you staying within your budget? I have found some great deals to help save on the cost of gifts.

Bath and Body Works sales and coupons have helped me stock up on those items, and all ladies in my family are getting at least a little something.

I'm making quite a few things this year, like towel turbans. Cost me about $1.50 to make-the cost of a towel at Walmart.

And sales that were in the Screaming Penny have helped too.

So tell me about your holiday budget!

[danielgimj]

Christmas is definitely budgeted this year! We spent $50 on ds, my family has a $20 limit on each other this year, and we're doing pretty well on his family. We got some things when CVS put their summer stuff 90% off. All the kids on our list besides ds got finished when Toys R Us had their 50% off green tag sale. (It was green tags, right? Dh did all that shopping, so I don't remember.) When we sort through all the stuff to wrap it, whoever doesn't have a gift will get chocolate. We make chocolate every year. And I'm going to help ds make dog treats for my moms dog. I still think we could have done better, but it gives me something to strive for next year. :)

[Cebs]

Were doing okay,

Christmas usually works out okay for us because before christmas since its just me and DH we just buy 1 or 2 small gifts to take where ever where celebrating for each other. Then we get each other our big gifts after christmas when a lot of stuff is on sale with his end of the year bonus. Weve bought his mom a dvd, his dad a decorative box, his brother who is in college is getting movie money, walmart gift card, and dry soup, brownies, hot cocoa, cake mixes, in a jar made by me. Grandpa and Grandma get candles and a handmade duck frameless fabric wall hanging for the duck room (office). my mom doesnt want anything so ill just send her a card and a jar of cake mix. my family really doesnt do christmas anymore, i bought my niece a ton! of stuff. Made her 2 strawberry shortcake shirts using some iron on transfers from a coloring book found at walmart, a bunch of books from the dollar store, and bath fun stuff from the dollar tree as well. We are very spread out so everyone else just gets the handmade cards. My families in wisconsin, DH's familys in Alaska so we tend to buy only one group of big shipping things and send it all at once.

[ahunter1]

Wow! Sounds like you two are right on track! Great job.

Cebs-do you ever visit Alaska? Just curious. Sounds like you've done well budget wise. My Dh and I are talkinga bout getting a new digital camera and keep thinking about waiting until after Christmas to get it. Or maybe on Black Friday. :lol:

Danielgimj-Sounds like you are doing well too! I love shopping sales and then giving that at Christmas. We've been getting a thing or two for months now, and when I looked at it to inventory, found I had very little left to buy!

Great job!!

[Cebs]

My DH used to go to alaska every year for the fishing season, hasnt been since his last year of high school. Next year his contract switches companies and they will pay out his vaction so we have to start earning again. so not June 05, but June 06 i will be making my first trip up to alaska for 3 weeks on the kenai river.

[DungareeRN]

We're doing well. I always go over budget, but I'm right on schedule this year. We have a $250 budget for the children and we're buying something for the house as a present to one another. I've already purchased a table and chairs and the play food for their kitchen set. Have to wait till the next payday because we ARE on a budget--what a dirty word! :lach:

We've really scaled it down and I'm proud because we don't really need much. That's not what the holidays are about. :)

[jilliebean]

We're doing pretty good so far. I'm trying to think of nice yet a little thrifty gifts. My in-laws are getting a fleece blanket (found "panels" at the fabric store on sale for about $7 each and I'm fringing and tying them) along with a framed (dollar store) family picture and some of my daughter's "art work". We may go over DD's budget. I only have $17 left of her budget to finish Christmas and her birthday and what I want to get for her birthday is about $15 and we've only gotten two things for Christmas (a train table and train set). That would've been enough but my family is being lame this year (long story but they're really pissing me off and making the holiday totally NOT fun) and is having family Christmas on the 18th. And my MIL has already announced she is just sending a check. Which means DD will have opened all her gifts and will have nothing to open on Christmas morning except stuff from us. Sooooo, I'm hoping the Dollar store will have some fun stuff so she can have a few things to open. She will be 3 this year so is really getting into the spirit of Christmas this time. I have to buy for everyone in my large family so have been collecting things over recent months. I'm also trying to make some things. And I"ve gotten some FAB ideas here on the PYP boards. I'm pretty proud though that with the exception of some stuff I ordered online (so I had to use a card) I've paid CASH for everything so far. The one card item will be paid off promptly. So far so good for me! :)

[PYPmember]

Reminder to pick up extra Sara Lee pies for neighbors and such while the catalina deal is going on. (Check out your area to see if this applies). I'm going to be able to buy 60 pies for neighbors and friends for free. This will save me a TON of money. I did go and purchase 100 yards of tulle (Michal's 40% off 10=6.00) to wrap a pretty boy on the pie. I'll be giving them as soon as I get them to avoid having to store them.

HTH with your holiday budget!