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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jul 4, 2024 17:35:34 GMT
It's July already, so about halfway there.
The past few years I've set a budget for Christmas spending, which I've mostly stuck to.
I had started this year with the intention of saving each month towards holiday spending, so it wasn't an all at once chunk in the autumn & winter. I have not saved towards that expense. Oops.
So, have you given any thought to this year's holidays? Spending or otherwise?
One thing I do know: I have enough cards and wrap and bows.
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Post by mom on Jul 4, 2024 17:47:34 GMT
I am not thinking about gifts yet, but I have started thinking about where I will put our tree. We got new living room furniture and the place we put our tree last year now wont work because of the furniture there now. But otherwise, nope.
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Post by lainey on Jul 4, 2024 17:48:49 GMT
Noooooo. Nope. No.
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Post by jill8909 on Jul 4, 2024 17:49:37 GMT
no way but I don't buy a lot of gifts. maybe 10?? I'll wait until the fall
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,810
Jun 30, 2014 12:52:45 GMT
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Post by ellen on Jul 4, 2024 17:50:33 GMT
My husband and two daughters all have birthdays around Christmas and I have to think about it ahead of time otherwise it is just way too much to have to deal with at the same time.
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,735
Location: So Cal
Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by caangel on Jul 4, 2024 17:54:05 GMT
We have summer bdays still to get through, 2 June, 1 July, 1 Aug.
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dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
'A life without books is a life not lived.' Jay Kristoff
Posts: 8,564
Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
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Post by dawnnikol on Jul 4, 2024 18:44:21 GMT
We basically organize our living room around where our tree fits, so the holiday definitely crosses my mind a bit. I think DH told me we have 25 Saturdays until Christmas? /cackle
I'll start looking for the small stuff now that school supplies should be out (we go back in August) and get the big stuff after birthdays (Sept, Oct, and Nov). You'd think as a planner, I might've planned to have my kid's birthdays a little farther apart..
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snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,348
Location: Colorado
Apr 26, 2017 6:14:47 GMT
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Post by snyder on Jul 4, 2024 19:07:52 GMT
The other day, I started seeing things about Christmas in July, so for a split second I thought about it, wondering what gift ideas I could come up with this year. I quickly forgot about it. I have such a hard time finging gifts to fit people these days as everyone has everything they need/want. Money seems so uncrative and I like to be the creative gift giver, but it tough any more.
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Post by gar on Jul 4, 2024 19:09:59 GMT
Lalalalalal I can’t HEAR you…..
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,296
Jun 19, 2022 16:48:04 GMT
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Post by pantsonfire on Jul 4, 2024 19:28:59 GMT
No. I start in September. I have always caught way better sales in Sept and Oct than in November and December. I saved an additional $60 one year on dd's camera over the Black Friday deal. It also came with a free case and SD card.
However in December a few years ago, Le Creuset had a 12 days of Christmas special and I got a sauteuse for $100 off. They run sales at various times and I have learned when to shop.
I also like to use Kohl's Cash I earn from back to school clothes shopping for DS on items he'd like such as Lego sets or Thomas sets. Last year I got a Lego set and small Thomas set for "free" only using K.C.
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Post by katlady on Jul 4, 2024 19:42:04 GMT
Nope!
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Post by justkat on Jul 4, 2024 20:05:51 GMT
Yes, I shop year round. I'm roughly 1/3 way finished with my gift and decor shopping. I've booked the majority of our travel and entertainment for the season.
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Post by nightnurse on Jul 4, 2024 20:11:29 GMT
One year, my daughter was super in to those monster high dolls. I stalked toys r us and bought like half a dozen and put them away for Xmas. As it got closer, she announced she no longer liked them, she had grown up too much, and I was out of the return window. But that’s the only year early shopping hasn’t worked out for me. My nieces and nephews just like cash. So the only one I buy for is my daughter and she’s at college so limited room. I am mostly picking up gift certificates here and there so she can treat herself to eating off campus once in a while, and a few little things that don’t take up too much space. I’m a little sad about it because I love Christmas shopping. But once she gets an apartment, she’ll have lots of needs and space.
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sweetpeasmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,710
Jun 27, 2014 14:04:01 GMT
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Post by sweetpeasmom on Jul 4, 2024 20:14:37 GMT
I split my year in two. The first half I am saving for vacation. The second half for Christmas. So now that I have paid for our vacation, this month I will start saving for Christmas.
My goal next year is to do both at the same time. I've started utilizing savings challenges. It's helped me visualize the savings and break it out into smaller easier to manage chunks.
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Post by gracieplusthree on Jul 4, 2024 20:39:43 GMT
I've already bought a couple things recently and have Christmas board books for the grandkids I got on clearance last year after the holiday. I'll give those to them before Christmas though.
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Post by melanieg on Jul 5, 2024 4:15:09 GMT
I'm almost done. I buy 1 gift a month, starting in February. This helps my budget.
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Post by KikiPea on Jul 5, 2024 5:02:09 GMT
Not in the slightest. It’s just now hitting 100°+. I can’t even wrap my head around anything more than shorts and flip flops right now.
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bethany102399
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,666
Oct 11, 2014 3:17:29 GMT
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Post by bethany102399 on Jul 5, 2024 5:11:18 GMT
yep, I'm a year round shopper as well. I've got a couple of things stashed in the basement for Christmas as they happened to come up on sale at the right time.
For those of you planning travel costco has the $500 Southwest Gift card on sale for $430 for the holiday.
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Post by disneypal on Jul 5, 2024 10:21:09 GMT
Not thinking about shopping yet, but I have been trying to decide on the design of the cards I about to start making
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Post by littlemama on Jul 5, 2024 10:40:49 GMT
We don't buy for many people, so we dont really save up for Christmas. Our remaining parents have bdays in Dec and Jan, so Im typically buying for both occasions for those 2 people (step-FIL also had a dec bday so it used to be 3), dh, DS, and me.
DS bought a house, so he will probably need something for it this year. Last year, our Mexico trip was pur bday and Christmas gifts for the year.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 5, 2024 13:06:06 GMT
Not yet. The only person we really buy anything of significance for is DD and she never really asks for much. I usually end up getting her some clothes that she has pointed out that she likes or things from her Amazon list for her room. My guess is that once Christmas rolls around we’ll be close enough to being able to upgrade her phone which is something expensive that she needs. Her current phone doesn’t even hold a charge all day now and with her being in HS next fall with more after school activities, etc. it’s pretty important for her to have a reliable phone.
ETA: I’m thinking more of what I want to buy for myself with Prime Days coming up next week.
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SweetieBsMom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,785
Jun 25, 2014 19:55:12 GMT
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Jul 5, 2024 13:51:55 GMT
I'm almost done As I see things I think people would like, I pick them up and put them in the "gift box". I do this for birthdays as well.
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,306
Jun 26, 2014 5:46:37 GMT
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Post by lindas on Jul 5, 2024 13:56:13 GMT
Never crossed my mind until I took DGS to the Lego store last week, holy cow! I need to start shopping now to spread that out otherwise I may need to take out a 2nd mortgage (JK)
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Tearisci
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,268
Nov 6, 2018 16:34:30 GMT
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Post by Tearisci on Jul 5, 2024 13:57:22 GMT
No, but I don't have a big list to buy for. I'm over summer though and wishing for spooky season!
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Post by paulao on Jul 5, 2024 14:19:29 GMT
I think about Christmas decorations year round. Presents? Nope. I’m buying a new dressage saddle this weekend so will have no extra money this year for presents.
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Post by cecilia on Jul 5, 2024 14:54:34 GMT
I try to stockpile through out the year. I mainly just buy for my parents and dogs.
I only get my Dad stuff he can use (like razors, shave cream, etc) and My Mom stuff for the kitchen or yarn so it's just easier to pick that stuff up when it's on sale or if I have coupons or something.
I get add ons to Elvis's bark box throughout the year and hoard the toys til Christmas.
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Post by padresfan619 on Jul 5, 2024 14:56:17 GMT
My family calls the month of June “Junecember” because we have so many birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations and other events. I still need to recover from that before I start thinking about Christmas.
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Post by freecharlie on Jul 5, 2024 16:03:18 GMT
I have money automatically go into savings buckets every paycheck for birthday and holidays.
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Post by guzismom on Jul 5, 2024 17:06:32 GMT
I am off the hook yet again since we are traveling at Xmas and spending a boat load of $$$ to bring our adult daughters and their beaus with us.
If I had my way, I'd never buy another Xmas present.
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Post by airforcemomof1 on Jul 5, 2024 17:22:48 GMT
I used to shop really early and wish I could now. My son and daughter-in-law are so hard to buy for so I require a wish list from them. But I don’t even get that early enough!! I really only buy for four others and I do actually have something for two of them. I bought right after last Christmas and almost forgot I have them.
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