Such an anti-climax after the Xmas holiday period. Now we have no money, struggling until the next pay day - I always go overboard at Xmas and regret it in the New Year. Next year - I tell myself - BUDGET!!!!!

Are you in the same boat..... also expecting the bills to come dropping at the door. Don't seem recover until its summertime.....

[Edited 1/8/11 6:57am]

Not to get all holy, but I refuse both to allow Christmas to do this to me and to allow myself to do this to Christmas.

This sort of thing must kill so much of the joy of the season. I hope you have a more manageable Christmas 2011.

i feel the csame way but instead of xmas it was prince concert tix....

blueblossom said:

Such an anti-climax after the Xmas holiday period. Now we have no money, struggling until the next pay day - I always go overboard at Xmas and regret it in the New Year. Next year - I tell myself - BUDGET!!!!!

Are you in the same boat..... also expecting the bills to come dropping at the door. Don't seem recover until its summertime.....

[Edited 1/8/11 6:57am]

Suze Orman would take a belt to your ass.

Next year, give homemade shit that doesn't cost you anything. Do you want to have nothing when you retire?

Lammastide said:

Not to get all holy, but I refuse both to allow Christmas to do this to me and to allow myself to do this to Christmas.

This sort of thing must kill so much of the joy of the season. I hope you have a more manageable Christmas 2011.

good thoughts. This year I'm going to rein it in for a truly joyful Christmas

Christmas bends me over and fucks me in the ass financially every year.

Dry and raw.

I pay as I go ~ cash or debit ... and no seasonal debt

It would feak me out and make the holidaze rotten if I knew I had to dish out more in the new yr after them

I'm not a Jehovah's Witness, and I have a few ideological differences with them where holidays are concerned. But one thing I appreciate having learned from JW friends is how to navigate times like Christmas. You let people know upfront that you're buying them zilch -- not because you don't love them or are being cheap (well, in my case, not only because I'm cheap), but because you just don't roll like that in view of the day -- and no feelings are hurt when the time comes.

I got together with friends and family and had a great time, but I presented gifts only to my wife and kid. My wife got two books she'd wanted ($30); my kid inherited one of my MacBooks (cleaned up and refurbished for free under my Apple Extended Warrantee). Painless.

[Edited 1/8/11 17:19pm]

Christmas savings accounts pretty much rock the world if overspending in December is a problem for you. How hard is it, really, to put away $50-100 bucks a month when you KNOW you're going to spend that much in December anyway? I have two family members who started doing this a few years ago and it completely changed their enjoyment level of the whole shopping process.

I know I should know better and need my ass slapped every year - but I do enjoy giving pressies (although I dont get as much pleasure from receiving them - funny isnt it?) - next year I am giving out vouchers which I am saving for - and they can have them. I am going to restrict myself - told my husband and he just rolled his eyes knowing what I am like and may be it is a resolution I wont keep to - who knows!

Gotta be strong!

I must admit I find budgeting very hard!

Acrylic said:

Christmas bends me over and fucks me in the ass financially every year.

Dry and raw.

I know exactly how you feel!

blueblossom said:

Such an anti-climax after the Xmas holiday period. Now we have no money, struggling until the next pay day - I always go overboard at Xmas and regret it in the New Year. Next year - I tell myself - BUDGET!!!!!

Are you in the same boat..... also expecting the bills to come dropping at the door. Don't seem recover until its summertime.....

[Edited 1/8/11 6:57am]

Ugh, I totally feel your pain.

PunkMistress said:

blueblossom said:

Such an anti-climax after the Xmas holiday period. Now we have no money, struggling until the next pay day - I always go overboard at Xmas and regret it in the New Year. Next year - I tell myself - BUDGET!!!!!

Are you in the same boat..... also expecting the bills to come dropping at the door. Don't seem recover until its summertime.....

[Edited 1/8/11 6:57am]

Ugh, I totally feel your pain.

Thank you......I so desperately need to win the lottery!

Cerebus said:

Christmas savings accounts pretty much rock the world if overspending in December is a problem for you. How hard is it, really, to put away $50-100 bucks a month when you KNOW you're going to spend that much in December anyway? I have two family members who started doing this a few years ago and it completely changed their enjoyment level of the whole shopping process.

Joining a Christmas savings club is a good idea

angel345 said:

Cerebus said:

Christmas savings accounts pretty much rock the world if overspending in December is a problem for you. How hard is it, really, to put away $50-100 bucks a month when you KNOW you're going to spend that much in December anyway? I have two family members who started doing this a few years ago and it completely changed their enjoyment level of the whole shopping process.

Joining a Christmas savings club is a good idea

Yep. Even if you can only save $20 a month. Even if you eventually spend over the amount you've saved. It's still a good chunk of money that you aren't losing in Nov/Dec, which helps any other money that you might spend have less of an affect on your lifestyle after Christmas.

I just gave my daughter cash for those latest Nike Jordan sneakers she wanted (and it seems like that man comes out with something every month or so), and called it a day. She received a few gifts from other family members.

Cerebus said:

angel345 said:

Joining a Christmas savings club is a good idea

Yep. Even if you can only save $20 a month. Even if you eventually spend over the amount you've saved. It's still a good chunk of money that you aren't losing in Nov/Dec, which helps any other money that you might spend have less of an affect on your lifestyle after Christmas.

UGH.

Hope you get caught back up soon.

I wasn't quite as bad as I normally am this year, and yanno what? My kids didn't even notice. And I cut back big time.

There is just NO WAY I can do it.

Although, I am behind on my rent since December.

And my car has been in the shop for almost a month now cuz I just don't have the money to go get it.