Keeping The Christmas Budget In Check!

I always come in under budget for Christmas and have all of my shopping done by the middle of November at the latest. Jealous?? Don't be, just do this too...

Before you do any shopping, make a Christmas list of all the people you are buying for and assign a dollar amount to each of them. The amount should be the maximum you are comfortable spending on them and the total is an amount you are comfortable with as well. The key is to shop year-round for Christmas gifts in order to hit all the sales... so make your list early!! You'll find some items on sale throughout the year, and the trick is to not spend up to your budget for each person, but make sure the value of your gift equals your budget for each person. That way if you're buying for siblings, one doesn't end up with a $25 jacket and the other with a $75 jacket you got on sale for $25. Gotta keep it fair! Sure you'll spend your budget on some people, but you'll save on many others.

Another tip is to wrap presents as I go... this saves me from being overwhelmed a week before Christmas and getting carpal tunnel from wrapping mounds of presents in one day. As of today, I have over 2/3 of my presents bought and wrapped in a storage closet. Now I will have time to relax and enjoy the holidays instead of having my holiday spirit get lost in the hustle and bustle. I absolutely refuse to enter the mall in December- I am not standing in those long lines and fighting the mobs! Take my advice, and you'll enjoy the holidays much more!

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Linked at Works For Me Wednesday @ We Are That Family