Sneaky little thing, the Holiday season. Normally I'm ready to go. I can face it's arrival with a smile because I've already started my Christmas shopping. I laugh at delivery dates because I know I've had ample time to have my gifts arrive. I feel sorry for those poor souls running around last minute to get their gifts for loved ones. That is until this year. This year, I'm a poor soul running around. I haven't even started. Well, okay, I do have one grandsons gift. I bought it in the beginning of the year. I also have two very small gits; one for DH and one for our youngest son. The bulk of my Christmas shopping is still to be done. It starts tomorrow. However, I will need all my wits to get everything before the Christmas Holiday.
Dh and I set a budget each year; for ourselves and for what we get for family. We don't use credit cards. Not even with the intention of paying it off next month. Once we paid those bad boys off, we said never again. "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions" said 18th century writer Samuel Johnson. Truer words were never spoken. Especially when it comes to credit cards. Well, and me. It's so easy to get out of budget during the Christmas season. Gifts, paper, ribbon, food, tape, stamps, cards, employee parties, etc., all can throw you off budget. Balances can become more than can be paid off in a month. Then what follows is tax season. Not a good combination. Before you know it, that balance thought to be paid off in January is still there come next December.
This year, for us, is going to require some leg work; old fashioned Christmas shopping at brick and mortar stores. I can get somethings online tomorrow, but the rest won't have time to make it. I won't have more Christmas money budgeted until the middle of the month. So the other half of the shopping plan will be after that. The benefit of that is the closer to Christmas the lower prices tend to go as stores try to move inventory. It's a gamble, but I look forward to the challenge.
Homemade gifts are also part of that budget/plan. Everyone from the mail man to my siblings will receive a homemade gift from me. Usually in the form of a baked good or candy(my butter toffee). If I have enough time while DH is away, I might be able to make our traditional Pj's for Christmas eve. One year I decided not to give Pj's on Christmas eve. I thought the kids were tired of it and already knew what the gift was anyway. I was wrong. They missed not having the Pj's on Christmas eve. So I've gone back to it. If I don't have time, I'll need to buy them, but if I can make them from fabric on hand, I can save that bit. I may end up buying the t shirt tops, and making the pants.
So we'll see what I can get done. Sewing will be my major project while DH is away. The most important part that I hope is taken away from this post is please, please, please
A) Have a budget, even if it's tiny, to work with for the Christmas season. Homemade gifts are awesome! I have recipes on my pages for "how to's", playdough, and other treats. Google is a great resource too!
B) DON'T USE A CREDIT CARD! Even if you have and follow a budget, don't do it. Don't put yourself there. If you can't afford gifts for your entire family, let them know and focus just on you, your spouse, and your own kids.
***The pictures are pictures of present and past fur babies in our home. The top is current. That's stitch. Next is Wolly. We lost him 12 years ago. I miss him every day, and last is Nermal. We had her for 22 years until 7 years ago. Now we have 2 dogs and 4 cats in our little house because apparently we're nuts! Happy Thanksgiving! Love to all!
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