Comments on: Holiday Shopping

By: Melaniesd

Melaniesd — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:25:49 +0000

What wonderful posts!

Mrs. T – How lucky to have been given such finds!

Maureen – that was very insightful about life in the north.

Susan – I think it’s great that you come together as a class and do something nice for the community. It’s an excellent learning opportunity for the students too.

This year, I have been more mindful of the amount of my purchases because I have too. I have always generally stuck to a budget but DH is in school this year and money is more tight.
I’m planning to do a little baking to add to the gifts. I made homemade vanilla for my loved ones who bake – I’m very excited to see their reactions. I’m painting portraits of my brothers dogs- just have to ship them. I gave the parents a night out at the movies certificate – discounted at Costco. Also I used my Optimum points from Shoppers Drugmart for 2 lovely photo frames for my grandparents. I only had to pay for copies of photos to insert.
I have to really go over what I have bought for my 4 yr old. I may put a few items aside for Easter, although I did buy a fair bit of clothing for him which he needed. The bonus is that he is obsessed with Lightening McQueen and anything with that on it is fantastic to him. He doesn’t want to wear anything else.

I bought a big bag of bird seed and I’m planning to teach my son to make bird seed balls. This can be a special gift from him to give to his family. I really want to encourage the idea of giving from the heart and not being wasteful.

By: frugalistas.blogspot.com

frugalistas.blogspot.com — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:12:48 +0000

Consider the gift of gold bullion. We bake cookies for gifts as well. Expecting a baby any minute….

By: Stephanie H.

Stephanie H. — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:36:47 +0000

I am so close to being done with shopping. I have done almost all of it online and although I am making all of purchases on my CC I will probably pay it off before I receive the bill. I am taking this year to see exactly how much I spend on Christmas for my budget next year. I don’t generally enjoy shopping so the crowds during the holidays drive me crazy. There is nothing better than the holiday season and gift giving. I actually love to give handmade gifts and on average they are the favorite gifts each year. Due to the time consuming nature of these I generally only do one a year. Merry Christmas!

By: pgel

pgel — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:07:21 +0000

While I am busy and so focused paying off my cc, I forgot to set aside some money for this holiday. One thing for sure, no more cc use. If I do so it is to collect the points but I am committed to pay it in full even before the due date not to have interest charged. I am now allergic to cc, believe it or not. This could be my long term goal – to pay off my consumer debts (cc + car loan) in less than 3 years starting this January 2010. My short term goal to meet the long term goal is to pay $1500.00 monthly to my cc, first. Mind you, I am a 33 year old bachelor with a decent job and I just trully absorbed just now the importance of being matured financially. Now, I am more accountable to my own actions. I cannot change the past anymore but can learn from it and move on. I have no relationship right now because I want to be financially ready before committing with someone else.

By: Monica

Monica — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:32:22 +0000

Suzanne…LOVE the 44 cent bin at Superstore. It’s the best place to shop. I found desk clocks after Christmas a couple of years ago and bought all of them. I went to another store because I was one short for my gift giving needs and realized that they had been priced wrong. The store manager said “obviously the manager at the store you got them at doesn’t want to count stock in January”!

We do family gifts to each family instead of individual presents or pulling names. I hated the name pulling thing – limits were always too high and out of our budget and you always felt inadequate if you spent less than the limit.

The family gifts always have a theme – last year it was all around tea only because I found an awesome deal on tea pots after the holidays for almost 90% off. The baskets cost just under $8 each and at 14 families that is plenty! This year the theme is baking and it is costing less than $4 each. I got a super deal on a baking set on Boxing Day last year. I am adding a mini loaf pan I got at Michael’s for 10 cents and I am making a small recipe book of 10 recipes that we like to make around the holidays. I also went a little over board in the after holiday sales frenzy the last couple of years, (but it was only 10 cents or 44 cents or 89 cents!!) so when I made my list of gifts, I realized I had everything I needed stored in my basement! No malls, no stores no nothing! Just have to wrap everything.

Gift giving funds were used to purchase toques, mitts and canned goods to give to a local homeless shelter. That felt better than any present that I have ever received!

Wishing everyone a debt free Merry Christmas!

By: Holiday Shopping « gailvazoxlade.com | Jack's Money Saving Blog

Holiday Shopping « gailvazoxlade.com | Jack's Money Saving Blog — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:42:25 +0000

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By: inge

inge — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:20:28 +0000

My personal fiscal year ends on the first Saturday in December with the big adding-up of the old year’s cash flow. Sunday after that, spending plans for Christmas and for the upcoming year are made. Christmas always gets the year’s leftovers. I suspect there won’t be much left over this year — I bought new furniture and didn’t get overtime paid out. So there’s a lot of overtime to be spent in December, a lot of cookies to bake, some preserves to make, and maybe some music to write.

Food, drink and music have the added advantage that they do not add to anyone’s clutter.

I’m awfully unorganised when I do things too long before their due date (when I travel, I pack my bags one hour before I have to leave, otherwise I’d forget half of the things I need), so, like Judy, I have set “shopping day” to “last minute”, when I’ll know exactly what, where, and for how much.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:38:10 +0000

Lots of great ideas everyone!
I am a junior high teacher and over the past few years I have requested that students not bring me gifts for Christmas. I explain to them that I have been teaching for a very looong time and have received many lovely things – I really have everything I need. Also, I discuss the environmental impact of gift giving and the fact that their parents already have more than ENOUGH people to buy for. I don’t mention this to the students, but I think it also makes those kids whose parents can’t afford to or don’t want to give a gift feel less out of place when almost everyone else shows up with something. So, instead of giving to me we plan a Christmas class project for a special cause which they get to choose. Last year it was making dog biscuits for the SPCA and this year they will be selling popcorn one recess time to buy something for a family in a developing country. Naturally I had to buy the biscuit supplies and will have to buy the popcorn! I have felt such a sense of lightness over the past few years knowing that my students got to do something meaningful and that on the last day I didn’t have to find a way to carry home several large boxes of “stuff”.
I wish a healthy and peaceful Christmas to everyone. Count your blessings first and then your money!

By: Bobby

Bobby — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:37:07 +0000

Great advice, though I’m catching it late for this Christmas. I’ll add these to my New Year’s resolutions;-).

By: AnnieA

AnnieA — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:21:41 +0000

I too buy a lot of cards and gifts right after Christmas, and keep everything on one closet shelf, so I can have a look if I forget what is there. While I am happy to hear that some people enjoy the Christmas shopping crowds, keeping out of stores as much as possible in December is my own treat to myself…

By: Manda

Manda — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:12:01 +0000

How are we, two university students, making through the holiday season?

First off, we’re avoiding the trap that most couples fall into: the “the more you spend, the more you care” trap. We’ve decided that right now time is the most precious thing to us, so we’ve made this a handmade Christmas, much to the surprise of everyone we know. No more than $20 allowed, to be spent on materials only. My fiance will be receiving a series of comic book inspired paintings by yours truly (I’m not that artistic, but he asked for it!) and I will be receiving a refurbished 1930s record player that he is currently working on.

For friends and family, I’m crocheting up a storm. 9 scarves down now, and I’m in the middle of a barrage of sushi-shaped ornaments to be packed in tiny Chinese take-away cartons and distributed.

We’re buying a few presents, but they tend to be in the $15-$20 range, and they’re for the kids, mostly.

Some might look at us and call us cheap, but I’d say the look on people’s faces as they pull out a beautiful hand-made scarf is better than any gift! People know we’re poor as church mice, so they appreciate the effort we put into things.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:43:27 +0000

For those who might want an online advantage while shopping, try websites like http://www.retailmenot.com/ (I got an extra 5% off my flights round trip to Toronto from Vancouver) and http://www.keycode.com/ for promotional codes you can use at many online sellers (US and Canadian). They work hard to look up codes so you don’t have to. You can see what’s available and try them out as you shop. They don’t always work, but you can see on RetailMeNot’s website which ones have been effective for people. Good luck with the savings!

By: tigerlily

tigerlily — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:31:20 +0000

I love that, Jolie, ““Gail’vanized”!

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:29:08 +0000

I love the creativity that goes into this time of year. I’ve completed almost all of my Christmas stuff – family is being given a great experience – 5 days worth in fact! Sister has a lovely present that I think she’ll really enjoy. Neice, books all the way. In-laws, constantly complain about having no money so this year they are getting edibles only. I have to find something for my best friend and her husband – who have so kindly opened their home to me during my coarse and feed me that evening too – I’ll be splitting their gift between edible and an experience. That only leaves my wonderful man. Since we have an apartment together now and don’t really need much in terms of items, he is a little tricky. I want to give him something he’s always wanted and will love and be meaningful, I’m just not sure what that is yet – experience, physical item, homemade treats galore…this is the first time I’ve been stuck for ideas. Usually he’s the easiest to find ideas for just not this year.

I think this stems from contentment. I’m totally content now that I have my own place, my own space, and the time with my true love.

By: All In One Information » Holiday Shopping « gailvazoxlade.com

All In One Information » Holiday Shopping « gailvazoxlade.com — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:14:48 +0000

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