Preparing for next Christmas

[permanentvacation]

You guys know how broke I am. I had told my kids (16 and 21 years old) that I wasn't going to get them anything for Christmas this year. But I felt really bad when I found out that they - including my 16 yr old was getting me presents. So I got each of them and their boyfriends 1 gift for a total of about $50.

I have not been able to give my kids a 'good' Christmas for a couple of years and I have decided that throughout this year, I am really going to work towards planning for next year so I can afford to give my kids some decent presents.

I have tried just saving money such as in a savings account or a Christmas account. As times get tough, I have always told myself that I don't know what to get anyone anyway, and have taken the money and used it for my bills. So I thought I need to truly allocate the money to a specific person and gift. That way, maybe I won't take the money back for myself and I will actually save it for Christmas presents.

Here's my plan that I am already working on...

The envelope system! I started making a list of gift ideas on my computer. Then I started estimating how much each would cost and wrote the price next to the item on the list. Then I started thinking, that knowing me, I will wait until the last minute, look at the list and say that I don't have the money for the items.

So I decided to take envelopes and make an envelope for each item with the person's name, name of item, and estimated price on the envelope. My plan is throughout the year, as I get a little extra money here and there, to put the money for each gift in the prospective envelope. That way, I will slowly, throughout the year, save for a particular gift for each particular person.

[Unregistered]

That's an awesome idea! I might steal the envelope idea

What I've done in previous years is when I have a little extra cash through the year I buy a gift card to somewhere I know I'm going to shop at Christmas (Walmart, etc) and then use those gift cards to buy present. I find if I have cash laying around I think "well I'll borrow it and replace it later" but with the gift cards I don't even think about it

[Shell]

That's an awesome idea! I might steal the envelope idea

What I've done in previous years is when I have a little extra cash through the year I buy a gift card to somewhere I know I'm going to shop at Christmas (Walmart, etc) and then use those gift cards to buy present. I find if I have cash laying around I think "well I'll borrow it and replace it later" but with the gift cards I don't even think about it

I had this exact thought! Gift cards are a great idea. I have trouble keeping out of those envelopes myself. Another idea would be to put each person's picture on the envelope so you would feel badly if you took it out of their envelope.

[Kimskiddos]

Great idea! Or even another idea as each envelope meets the $$ amount go ahead and purchase the item. That way the money is already spent and you can't dip into it.

[permanentvacation]

I don't feel safe buying gift cards. Last year, a couple of stores here had problems where people had paid for and bought them, but when they went to use the gift cards, the computer said there was no money available on the gift card! Since then, I refuse to buy gift cards.

Kimskiddos,

I thought about buying the presents as I get the money for them, but I don't know where I'd hide the presents so my 16 year old won't see them. However, I can easily hide some envelopes with money in them. I just have to keep my little paws off the money!

[Josiegirl]

All great ideas! As for buying gift cards early to use at Christmas, if you shop thru Amazon, it's all so easy!
Also, you can earn gift cards through sites online such as swagbucks. This year I bought dc cots with earned amazon gift cards and a $200. camera, all free to me except the time it took. If you earned a $5 gift card each week....plus there are other places(walmart, American Eagle, etc.) that you can earn gift cards from.

[Josiegirl]

I don't do envelopes(but that's a really good idea!) but I simply drop extra change, or random singles, at the end of the week into a jar. It accumulates faster than you'd think.

[Daycarediva- logged out]

I save my singles all year. I had about $1800 this year. It's easy to take the dollar bills and stuff then in a Manila envelope throughout the year, too!!

[permanentvacation]

Wow! That's a lot of singles you saved! I might just try that!

[permanentvacation]

I just went through my entire house (except my daughter's room) looking for money to start my Christmas fund with and found a whole $2.85! All in change. I don't even have a dollar bill! It's gonna be a slow start.

[Unregistered]

I just went through my entire house (except my daughter's room) looking for money to start my Christmas fund with and found a whole $2.85! All in change. I don't even have a dollar bill! It's gonna be a slow start.

If you save that once per week it is $148.
If you save that once per day it is $1,040.25.
Don't think of it as "only $2.85" think of it as your first $2.85.
Or put away $2 every day. That would be $730.
Or $2 every week day would be $520.
It's money. It adds up.
Or gets spent.

[permanentvacation]

Look at that! A couple of dollars a day is about $1000 in a year. That's not bad.

Oh, I know it adds up. I actually bought a netbook (small computer) with majority of the money being coins!

I found a container that I can save my change in and put my little $2.85 in it to start my Christmas fund. I'll empty my change into it each night and see how much I have in a couple of months.

[Cradle2crayons]

Look at that! A couple of dollars a day is about $1000 in a year. That's not bad.

Oh, I know it adds up. I actually bought a netbook (small computer) with majority of the money being coins!

I found a container that I can save my change in and put my little $2.85 in it to start my Christmas fund. I'll empty my change into it each night and see how much I have in a couple of months.

Don't forget to check in your car. My son found his old jar thing that counts his coins... I found some batteries... And he went out to my truck in search. By the time he was done he had $19.23 in change. He checked every drawer too!!!

[permanentvacation]

You're right. I'll check my car today.

[Josiegirl]

I thought of you this a.m. PV. I found a five dollar bill under the front seat of my car while digging for returnables under there. So see? Ya never know where you'll find spare change.