Christmas of Dreams Day 3: Christmas Budgets

The lovely ladies over at momdot have asked the day three question of:

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Do you budget for the holidays? Do you always stick to your budget? Share with us any budgeting tips you may have!

(Cue Sesame Street Music)

This wonderful question was brought to you by: Appledonia, Hippos Toes, Kushies and the number 4. Sorry could not resist that last one!

Budget? What is that? Is that some new curse word today's kids have come up with?

No seriously.

Budgeting has never been my strong point. I do not even have a household budget! But I am working on correcting that. I usually try and keep a running list of how much money we have and what we need to pay out. I handle all the bills in the house out of my account. My husband does not even have one! He just hands the money right over to me every Friday.

I know I am AWFUL!

So no we do not have a budget per se for Christmas this year. We just know there is not a lot to spend, so we are trying to find other ways of giving gifts.

I have stocked up on Bath and Body Works at sales and using coupons. I have begun making jewelry thanks to a friend showing me how. I am searching the scrap fabric for things I can use to make nice inexpensive gifts, so no one feels left out, but we do not go into debt giving to everyone we want to give too. And of course, staying here for the holidays this year instead of going home.



That is just some of the stuff I have gotten.

I guess you could say I have a Christmas Game Plan, not so much a budget. I know what I have to work with and I am doing things to make sure it works.

And yes, for the first time ever, I have already started my Christmas shopping. I am NOTORIOUS for waiting until the last minute. But not this year! I am now supper dupper awesome plan ahead wife! WOO HOO! I even know what I am going to get Jeff. Now I just have to write my list for him to get me, drive him to the mall, show him what is on the list, and then print pictures off for him, just in case he forgets. Yeah he is not the best at picking out prsents. I mean a weather radio for my birthday!?