Keeping next Christmas "CASH ONLY"
Having resorted heavily to my credit card this Christmas (and I thought I was organised, but apparently not!), I have started slow preparations for next Christmas already. So far I have a coin jar with $19.40 (all coins go into it at the end of each day), a supermarket Christmas Club with $20 in (I'm trying for $10 per week) and a $10 petrol voucher which my father won at golf and gave it to me. So far, so good! The Christmas Club vouchers can be redeemed in December/January with a 5% discount off the grocery bill, and I often use the vouchers to buy Christmas stocking goodies, or treats for in "date in a box" presents (movie tickets, popcorn, drinks, chocolates etc)
Any other ideas from budget-minded people for making next Christmas "cash only"?
I think the best way is to save the money each week. Even at $10 per week, you will have over $500 to spend on Christmas. I would also recommend name exchanges if you exchange gifts with extended family members. My number recommendation for not using credit cards: drum roll please..................Cut them up !!!!
Edit to add Congrats on what you have done so far!!
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carlislehomemom
Unregistered User
(1/8/06 4:05 pm) Reply
another idea..
one way I try to not put gifts on credit for christmas is to start shopping early. I start mid-summer and budget one or two gifts into my basic budget..so I buy them early, stash them and have them ready for Christmas, this way I am not rushing around the holiday season with a small amount of cash but a huge list of gifts to get... Sometimes buying early is hard..so what I plan to do this year is when I have extra $$ I will buy a gift card to a store, like target, and then come christmas time use my gift cards to buy the gifts, this way I am on a budget and will not be using credit!
I to put way TOO much on credit cards this year..so my goal is actually stick with my plan and ideas for Christmas this year.
Re: Keeping next Christmas "CASH ONLY"
I have a christmas club with the bank I work for. The money comes out of each pay, goes directly into that account, then the check is mailed out each October. I never miss the money from my pay.
I have decided to make a lot of my presents next year, including my christmas cards and gift tags. Baked items, such as pumpkin rolls, homemade popcorn and homemade jelly are always a big hit with my family.
HoustonMomoftwo
Unregistered User
(1/8/06 8:38 pm) Reply
Keeping Christmas cash
I try to buy a few gifts every month, as opposed to trying to save any money throughout the year lol.
I'm awful when trying to save for Christmas, but love to shop, so it works easier for me to just buy a few things a month and when it's actually the season, I just have to buy stocking stuffers and one or two items perhaps.
Re: Keeping Christmas cash
Keep em coming ladies I had my credit card frozen in a block of ice for several months - that worked well, but once I thawed it out for Christmas it was just too easy to throw in a few luxuries as well (sigh!). I hate shopping and, as my daughters never know what they want for Christmas and birthdays ahead of time (one birthday is Dec 22nd and the other is Christmas day, and so is my mother's!!), I tend to wait until I kinow what they want before I start buying. The older they get, the more expensive it gets (now 19 and 23). Good idea about the auto payment into a special account - I have an empty account sitting somewhere so I think I'll go to the bank tomorrow and set up an auto-payment into that account for each payday (before the bills get paid and the groceries bought). $20 per pay is $500 per year, and that plus the Christmas Club for food will well and truly cover that expensive time of year.
Cool - I'm feeling all inspired (plus added another $1 coin to my cash tin today)
Re: Keeping Christmas cash
I meant to add that we started the name exchange thing a couple of years ago for Christmas and that means only buying one $30 present instead of 9 for sisters, nieces and nephews. What a relief! I still buy for my parents though and some littl edible treats for my Grandma (she's 101 - will be 102 in May). Plus a few friends............. it seems to go on and on, doesn't it?
The home-made goodies is a good idea -may try some of those this year if I can make the time
Re: Keeping Christmas cash
well I did it- today I finally got to the bank to set up an autopayment for $20 every 2 weeks into my old (empty) savings account - now otherwise known as the Christmas account.
Robyn
homemade Christmas
We've had great times the years we decided as a family that all presents must be hand made..........by us, not someone else! I have a pretty creative family, so this seemed normal.... Everything from woodworking & baking to knitting/sewing and calligraphy. These are the gifts that are still being used or displayed; no matter how many years ago they were received.
This requires planning & all year in some cases to get the job done.............hand knit socks for everyone takes time!!!
The other advantage to this method of giving, is the costs to you are spread throughout the year, not bunched up in December.
Re: homemade Christmas
This year for my MIL I got some material (using a coupon for 40% off) and made her one of those fleece blankets. She loved it. For my FIL I made him a goody bag I was already making Christmas cookies and candies so I got some christmas ziplocs (at the Dollar store) and put a dozen of each cookie, some pretzels, fudge etc.. in a pretty Christmas bag recycled from last year.My MIL doesn't really cook and she definately doesn't bake or anything so he greatly appreciated it.
Some Homemade Christmas tips
I have several ideas to share, and some have been taken, so I'll just list what flies off my fingers...
* _____ of the Month clubs! Create your OWN (blank) of the month club and this will be the present for your recipient(s). For instance, my hubby brews his own beer and wine, so he gives that as gifts, and can easily give some every month to people. You can also do homemade cookie of the month club and give to people. Artwork of the month from kids. Great way to get rid of some artwork and pass it on to Grandmum and Papa. It also spreads the cost out over several months, just a bit at a time.
* Exchange names for families. This year I bought 3 gifts averaging $30 each for my Mom, my husband bought for my Dad, and my sis bought for me. The 5 of us rotate, keeping so spouses don't buy for each other. This worked great when my sis was not being paid much, living in expensive area (DC), and we all moved that year. The kids get presents, but only 3 from anyone since that is all baby Jesus got was 3 gifts.
* For friends and neighbors, I usually do a little surprise. This year I gave several of my close friends salt shakers. Not terribly cool, but it came with a little saying that I made up talking about that person being the salt of the earth, and how salt preserves us and adds flavor to our lives, just like their friendship! I tried to find salt shakers that represented them, such as Disney ones for a friend who loves Disney, and sunflowers for another friend. They are usually only $3 or so, but it's the thought and hand picked part that make it a nice gift, and not much clutter.
* Another thing I do is Jake's Orange. I drop off a real orange and a chocolate flavored orange (from Terry's and Whitman's does it now, too), and give the story printed out and attached to brown lunch bag. You can search for Jake's Orange online. It's about an orphan boy who doesn't get an orange for Christmas, but alll his friends shared theirs with him. It's a nice small treat, dropped off at their homes secretly, like ding-dong-ditch.
* HANDMAKE items! There are dozens of things you can do, even if you are not crafty. Ornament hooks just require copper wire and some nice beads. I make beaded jewelry for people, using glass beads and either memory wire or regular bracelet wire. Earrings are quick to make, and can be done in so many colors, with little experience. Fleece items are simple to make, from hats and gloves to pillos, blankets and scarves. There are SO many fabric styles available now, too!
* Gifts in a jar are excellent items to give to family and friends. These are great for wacky recipes that people may not try on their own, or for grandparents who can't do everything on their own but still want to make cookies with kids.
Hope this gives you some inspiration to keep is simple next year! It's NOT just about the commercialism, but about thinking of these people all year long, knowing things they'd like but may not buy for themselves on their own.
By purchasing store gift cards in advance, you have some shopping power in your pocket later on to use. My family also makes it a game to find 'a great gift' at a great price, within the pre-set budget! Smaller collection of items totalling up to the set amount is also fine.
~Danielle
SAHM and Army wife
indianhill62
Unregistered User
(1/15/06 4:47 pm) Reply
Cash Christmas
Hi, I to have Christmas budget issues, seems like there is always something else that needs to be bought. I limit who I buy for. I use to exchange with friends but although the thought was appreciated basicly we ended up with something we did not want or need. For the family, this year I set limits. I have 3 yound adult children and I decided how much I could spend on each. I told them how much I had and asked them what they wanted. One wanted one expensive present the others got a small gift under the tree and the balance in cash.
Re: Cash Christmas
a friend told me she buys a store gift voucher (kmart/target etc) each week for $10 ... so come december - she can either give them as gifts - or use to purchase gifts
i thought this was a good idea
Re: Cash Christmas
Today is payday - so my Cash Christmas totals are up .......
$32.20 in my cash jar
$40 of my supermarket Christmas Club vouchers
$20 in my Christmas Savings account
still have my $10 petrol voucher I need my 82 year-old father to keep winning more petrol vouchers at golf to increase that total
Cash Christmas total as at this payday (drum roll please)
$102.20 - WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!
Robyn in New Zealand ( I really need to get a life so that things like this don't seem so exciting!!)
Re: Cash Christmas
Apart from all my jumping up and down about my Christmas savings totals, I meant to say thank-you for all of your ideas, and am getting some ideas together for handmade gifts to make near Christmas. I like to give consumable gifts so as not to give people clutter (unless it's something I know they need)
so it'll be homemade goodies all round!
sheriwils
Unregistered User
(1/18/06 4:58 pm) Reply
Cash Christmas
Be careful and check the length of time before gift cards start applying fees.
For those with coins to contribute to Christmas accounts, check your local bank or coin counting machine. I just noticed that the coin counting machine at one of my local grocery stores will apply the money (fee free) to gift certificates for Amazon.com. This might be a super idea for those who love to give books, etc.
Re: Cash Christmas
We don't have such things as coin counting machines here in New Zealand. I've decided that every time my cash jar gets to $40 I'll go and bank it. I'll change my small coins into larger coins in the till at work (5c, 10c,20c and 50c pieces into $1 and $2 coins) to make it easier at the bank. Actually we are phasing out 5cent coins soon in New Zealand (we phased out 1c and 2c coins several years ago) so I'll definitely get those banked.
$34.50 in my cash tin tonight .
sandsmom
Unregistered User
(1/26/06 1:40 pm) Reply
We have had 6 cash only Christmas'.
For the past six years we have had cash only Christmas'. We sometimes will cut back on the gifts that dh and I give each other so that we have money to buy for others on our list.
One time we had a yard sale to raise money for some other expenses that came up so that we would not have to use Christmas money for that.
When you are committed to cash only Christmas' then you will find a way to accomplish that. Other times we lower to cost of each gift that we buy if money is particularly tight and we always try to get the best price on whatever we buy.
Re: We have had 6 cash only Christmas'.
We've made gift bags out of fabric, that are re used every year. Different sizes, different fabrics, simple design.........just a draw string on one end. Really cuts the time down for wrapping.........as well as lets kids or people with disablities wrap their own presents to give.
If you're giving gifts outside your family, you may want to use paper..........depending on how many bags you have in your stash!
My Christmas savings
Today is payday so more is added to my Christmas stash:
Another $20 into savings from paypacket, plus I discovered that there was originally about $25 in that account from back in the dark ages when I last used it!
Banked $35 from my cash tin and have a further $3.40 in tin
Another $20 Christmas Club at supermarket
Still just 1 $10 petrol voucher
Grand total: 173.40
Goal is for $1200.00 for next December/January period to pay for gifts, groceries and petrol (although I'll use the debit card for that account to buy any Christmas gifts that I see between now and December)
Re: My Christmas savings
I like what one of my friends family does for Christmas. She does have a small family so it works very well, but I don't see why it couldn't work for larger families, too.
They rotate who will be the "special" recipient each year and the others get gifts that cost no more than $10-20 dollars. In other words, the "special" person gets costlier gifts from everyone, but they do not cost more than $50 from each person.
I had my credit card frozen in a block of ice for several months - that worked well, but once I thawed it out for Christmas it was just too easy to throw in a few luxuries as well (sigh!). I hate shopping and, as my daughters never know what they want for Christmas and birthdays ahead of time (one birthday is Dec 22nd and the other is Christmas day, and so is my mother's!!), I tend to wait until I kinow what they want before I start buying. The older they get, the more expensive it gets (now 19 and 23). Good idea about the auto payment into a special account - I have an empty account sitting somewhere so I think I'll go to the bank tomorrow and set up an auto-payment into that account for each payday (before the bills get paid and the groceries bought). $20 per pay is $500 per year, and that plus the Christmas Club for food will well and truly cover that expensive time of year.
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