Comments on: It’s been an expensive holiday season! http://www.feverishthoughts.com/2009/12/29/its-been-an-expensive-holiday-season/ Random Thoughts about life in general, living in the big city of Toronto Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:43:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: HealthyEatingTips http://www.feverishthoughts.com/2009/12/29/its-been-an-expensive-holiday-season/comment-page-1/#comment-37275 HealthyEatingTips Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:16:02 +0000 http://www.feverishthoughts.com/?p=5037#comment-37275 The holidays are always an expensive time of year. Unfortunately we went a little above our budget this year. We budget $500 for gifts and $300 for entertaining and even though we were real good about the gifts (only spent $487) our entertaining was way over the limit at $653 due to unexpected having to host the family Christmas eve dinner this year. Hopefully some extra overtime in January will take care of that overage fairly quickly. Hope the rest of the new year goes more according to plan! Yeah right! Eric The holidays are always an expensive time of year.

Unfortunately we went a little above our budget this year.

We budget $500 for gifts and $300 for entertaining and even though we were real good about the gifts (only spent $487) our entertaining was way over the limit at $653 due to unexpected having to host the family Christmas eve dinner this year.

Hopefully some extra overtime in January will take care of that overage fairly quickly.

Hope the rest of the new year goes more according to plan! Yeah right!

Eric

]]> By: Matt http://www.feverishthoughts.com/2009/12/29/its-been-an-expensive-holiday-season/comment-page-1/#comment-37272 Matt Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:55:46 +0000 http://www.feverishthoughts.com/?p=5037#comment-37272 I think everyone has felt the effects of the current economic climate in one way or another but we were determined to enjoy the holiday without going broke! It was not so tough buying gifts for friends and partner but most of our holiday budget was eaten up by childrens toys. Children are targeted by clever advertising on tv and can be very persuasive when it comes to the lastest wii games! Great posts, made me smile I think everyone has felt the effects of the current economic climate in one way or another but we were determined to enjoy the holiday without going broke! It was not so tough buying gifts for friends and partner but most of our holiday budget was eaten up by childrens toys. Children are targeted by clever advertising on tv and can be very persuasive when it comes to the lastest wii games! Great posts, made me smile

]]> By: movewithmika http://www.feverishthoughts.com/2009/12/29/its-been-an-expensive-holiday-season/comment-page-1/#comment-37263 movewithmika Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:20:44 +0000 http://www.feverishthoughts.com/?p=5037#comment-37263 Our family also stopped buying eachother gifts, and now focus on buying gifts for the kids only. This year I did books! It was cost-effective, and shipping out Media Mail saved lots on the cost for shipping and the presents arrived in plenty of time for Christmas. Great stories, thanks for writing! mika Our family also stopped buying eachother gifts, and now focus on buying gifts for the kids only. This year I did books! It was cost-effective, and shipping out Media Mail saved lots on the cost for shipping and the presents arrived in plenty of time for Christmas.
Great stories, thanks for writing!
mika

]]> By: James Lee, Photographer http://www.feverishthoughts.com/2009/12/29/its-been-an-expensive-holiday-season/comment-page-1/#comment-37256 James Lee, Photographer Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:37:11 +0000 http://www.feverishthoughts.com/?p=5037#comment-37256 I'm noticing that as January progresses, I'm spending money on NOTHING optional. Plenty of stuff I need to purchase, but the cash flow is staying as limited as possible. I’m noticing that as January progresses, I’m spending money on NOTHING optional. Plenty of stuff I need to purchase, but the cash flow is staying as limited as possible.

]]> By: Sheila http://www.feverishthoughts.com/2009/12/29/its-been-an-expensive-holiday-season/comment-page-1/#comment-37243 Sheila Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:26:37 +0000 http://www.feverishthoughts.com/?p=5037#comment-37243 For years now I have been shopping year round and keeping the treasurers in a designated closet. This year I shopped at Savers used and new store at their 50% off sale after Thanksgiving and found quite a few great outfits for the grandchildren that still had NEW tags in place. Cute CARS and Curious George , for example. I also bought new unopenned toys from Craigslist throughout the year at gonga prices. I have tried putting "extra" cash and change in jar but this didn't work for me as I always seemed to "borrow" from the stash during tight months. For me, hard economic times means thinking out of the box and not waiting for the end of the year to buy presents. For years now I have been shopping year round and keeping the treasurers in a designated closet. This year I shopped at Savers used and new store at their 50% off sale after Thanksgiving and found quite a few great outfits for the grandchildren that still had NEW tags in place. Cute CARS and Curious George , for example. I also bought new unopenned toys from Craigslist throughout the year at gonga prices. I have tried putting “extra” cash and change in jar but this didn’t work for me as I always seemed to “borrow” from the stash during tight months. For me, hard economic times means thinking out of the box and not waiting for the end of the year to buy presents.

]]> By: Mike http://www.feverishthoughts.com/2009/12/29/its-been-an-expensive-holiday-season/comment-page-1/#comment-37218 Mike Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:17:55 +0000 http://www.feverishthoughts.com/?p=5037#comment-37218 Ya, my credit card is maxed And the grocery total almost always end up costing more then I expect Ya, my credit card is maxed And the grocery total almost always end up costing more then I expect

]]> By: Mr Compost http://www.feverishthoughts.com/2009/12/29/its-been-an-expensive-holiday-season/comment-page-1/#comment-37163 Mr Compost Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:35:42 +0000 http://www.feverishthoughts.com/?p=5037#comment-37163 I know it sounds a little weird but I'm glad holidays are almost over too! So much I can do now that things are open and running (or maybe thats just because I live in a country town in Australia! lol) Thanks for the post ;) I know it sounds a little weird but I’m glad holidays are almost over too!

So much I can do now that things are open and running (or maybe thats just because I live in a country town in Australia! lol)

Thanks for the post ;)

]]> By: michael http://www.feverishthoughts.com/2009/12/29/its-been-an-expensive-holiday-season/comment-page-1/#comment-37137 michael Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:31:56 +0000 http://www.feverishthoughts.com/?p=5037#comment-37137 it is tough an my employer put a For Rent sign in front of the building. maybe the land is worth more than the business? terrifying times. however, seeing the kids go nuts with joy and laughter is worth so much worse. i would give anything to keep them so happy. it is tough an my employer put a For Rent sign in front of the building. maybe the land is worth more than the business? terrifying times. however, seeing the kids go nuts with joy and laughter is worth so much worse. i would give anything to keep them so happy.

]]> By: Grace http://www.feverishthoughts.com/2009/12/29/its-been-an-expensive-holiday-season/comment-page-1/#comment-37133 Grace Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:13:20 +0000 http://www.feverishthoughts.com/?p=5037#comment-37133 Hi. True, Holiday celebrations are expensive. But it only happens once a year. I did my best to make our Christmas and New Year the happiest because I was out of the country on Christmas 2008. That was the loneliest for my kids. Happy New Year! Hi. True, Holiday celebrations are expensive. But it only happens once a year.
I did my best to make our Christmas and New Year the happiest because I was out of the country on Christmas 2008. That was the loneliest for my kids.
Happy New Year!

]]> By: Tricia http://www.feverishthoughts.com/2009/12/29/its-been-an-expensive-holiday-season/comment-page-1/#comment-37129 Tricia Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:31:26 +0000 http://www.feverishthoughts.com/?p=5037#comment-37129 Cat it's been ages since I've talked with you. I hope that you're doing well. It sounds like you had a great Christmas with the family. Yes, I agree that it's more important to spend quality time with family and friends at this time of year. Presents are nice of course, but I think most people, once they're out on their own and have their own home and family usually have most everything they need. This was a special Christmas and holiday season for us because, thanks to my nieces wedding, my three brothers and my sister and I were all together during the holidays ( well from the 29th to the 31st for the most part) and we haven't all gotten together at the same time for a couple of years, and certainly not at this time of year so it was very special. My nieces wedding was fabulous as well - a very touching and intimate ceremony. Happy New Year Cat! Cat it’s been ages since I’ve talked with you. I hope that you’re doing well. It sounds like you had a great Christmas with the family.

Yes, I agree that it’s more important to spend quality time with family and friends at this time of year. Presents are nice of course, but I think most people, once they’re out on their own and have their own home and family usually have most everything they need.

This was a special Christmas and holiday season for us because, thanks to my nieces wedding, my three brothers and my sister and I were all together during the holidays ( well from the 29th to the 31st for the most part) and we haven’t all gotten together at the same time for a couple of years, and certainly not at this time of year so it was very special. My nieces wedding was fabulous as well – a very touching and intimate ceremony.

Happy New Year Cat!

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