Christmas Crunch
Every year I tell myself I’ll finish all of my holiday shopping early, meaning be done at least a week before Christmas. And every year I’m hustling to finish up my list the week of Christmas! My husband thinks it’s because I’m a scrooge, but I think it’s just because I’m always really busy the week right before Christmas; school has just finished up and I’m rushing to complete projects.
This year is no different. I’m rushing around trying to complete last minute shopping and send out those darn cards in hopes that they reach the recipients in time. Next year, I want to go to the Bahamas instead. Actually, a few years ago, my husband and I vacationed in Cabo San Lucas and avoided the hectic holiday madness. It was one of the best vacations ever! I might need a repeat of that trip next year.
With the New Years just ahead, I’ll be wrapping up my 2010 goals and creating some new ones; both the successes and the ones I didn’t quite get around to. However, I still have time to make a few goals to wrap up the year:
- Goal 1 – keep holiday spending under $500. I think I can meet this goal. I still have a couple of gifts to purchase, but if I shop smartly, I think I can do it.
- Goal 2 – bike, bike, bike. We’ve been fortunate to have amazing weather this month with a couple of days in the 80′s! There’s no good excuse NOT to bike.
- Goal 3 – finish up a few projects I started months ago, like my children’s math book that I plotted out in May and sketched in July. It’s time to finalize the book enough to present it to publisher’s.
I’m looking forward to some time off next week that will help me accomplish a few of these final goals.
Are you feeling the Christmas crunch?
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This is the first winter I spend at home in 4 years (last 3 years were overseas), so I’m not really used to xmas shopping! There’s still some things I want/need to get… :O
.-= Invest It Wisely´s last blog ..Importance of Financial Literacy Education – Get Some Here with Ramit Sethi’s Book- I Will Teach You To Be Rich =-.
Can’t wait too! Gonna be a huge dump this weekend in Lake Tahoe and I’ve decided to go up!
$500 is a good goal. I think I’ll do the same. Cheers
.-= Financial Samurai´s last blog ..What The Tax Cut Extension Means To You =-.
Christmas vacations rock. Back when I had limited vacation time, my husband and I would always do an international trip over the holidays. It was also nice to avoid some of the holiday drama.
I’m taking monday off and I don’t even know what I’m going to do yet. Hopefully just relax a little.
$500 is my holiday budget for gifts as well and I’m barely going to make it! I am happy to have all my shopping done (except for a few stocking items) and cards mailed.
Now, I have to plan the food for the holiday weekend.
@Financial Samurai – Ski or Snowboard safely and have fun! I have to say that I became a chicken about 10 years ago and don’t ski anymore (too afraid of broken bones.
) Maybe someday I’ll get the desire to do it again, but the whole falling down in the cold snow isn’t the fun part.
@First Gen American – I love flying south for the winter. I think next year that’s the tentative plan.
Enjoy your 3-day weekend!
@Bucksome Boomer – I don’t know if I’m going to make my budget, either. We’re almost finished, but we are having a hard time with two of our gifts (we can’t think of what to get them!) Thankfully, we don’t have to plan the meals!
I definitely spend more than 500 dollars at Christmas. But, I have 3 kids, 4 nephews, my mom, mother in law, and my siblings and their spouses to buy for. I buy as economically as I can, but I still spend over the 500.
By the way, I was Christmas shopping today too, but I loved it. My youngest son came with me and we had a great time. I love Christmas shopping. Probably because I am loaded with coupons and I feel like I am getting a good deal. (Even if they do just jack up the prices to compensate for the coupons.)
.-= Everyday Tips´s last blog ..Two Parts- A Teenager Shares Some Insight and Teach Your Kids About Finances =-.
Fortunately, don’t have too many to shop for. Past the stage of having little kids and don’t exchange with extended family! So… not too stressful!! (Made a last night run to Target for a few special things for my daughter
) (PS couldn’t find your comment in my spam que..sorry)
@Barb Friedberg – You’re so lucky! I’m still working on a couple of gifts and then it’s time to wrap them. Thank goodness for my husband.
Also, thanks for looking for my comments. I’m not sure what happened to them either.