I really hate Christmas shopping, I have to admit. I hate to spend the money and I never feel like I'm getting anything anybody wants.
That said, I got some done. A book for my BFF: $18. Christmas napkins in caddies for the girlfriends: $30. A "Frozen" snackeez for my granddaughter: $10. A water bottle for my DIL's mom: $26. A rainproofing umbrella for my son: $24. Veggie crispers & scrubber for my DIL: $23. Night vision goggles for my grandson: $10. Sketch projector for my other grandson: $15. A toy for my son's dog: $5. (I promised) A $100 Target gift card for my son & DIL in Florida, who are buying a house. It's a good beginning.
I also bought myself a humidifier because it was half-price - $25. I got a box of filters for the aquarium: $25.
Then I stopped at Aldi and spent $27 on: eggs, tuna, gravy, pumpkin pie mix, mushrooms, sourdough bread, spreadable margarine, muffin mix, two jars of jelly, almond milk, peanut butter, crescent rolls, kitty litter and a poinsettia. The poinsettia was only $4, but I went back and forth about it. Finally got it, and I'm glad -- it looks so pretty in my dining room.
Before I went shopping I had the meetup with the incoming treasurer. We had brunch after switching the account; my share was $17. We went to a restaurant that caters to vegetarians, so my eggs benedict were served over spinach and tomato rather than Canadian bacon. A little strange, but healthy, I'm sure. This I will write off as a business expense.
I haven't figured out yet what this has done to my variables budget, but I knew December would be bad.
Today's menu:
Breakfast: Hot Pocket
Lunch: Turkey Manhattan
Dinner: Lasagna? (if I make it)
Christmas Shopping
December 13th, 2015 at 12:14 pm
December 13th, 2015 at 01:32 pm 1450013546
I think gift giving should be inspired. You see an item or experience you know the person would like and you give it to them then...when you are inspired! One should feel obligated to give a gift just because it happens to be an occasion. Yes, even Christmas.
My sister and I (along with our husbands and my parents) are no longer giving each other birthday and Christmas gifts. I told my sister I'd rather they use the money they would spend on us for themselves. And spend the time they would have spent looking for gifts for themselves as well. Do you know what a stress reliever this is for people?!
Something to consider...
December 13th, 2015 at 03:24 pm 1450020259
December 13th, 2015 at 05:32 pm 1450027945
December 13th, 2015 at 09:34 pm 1450042461
December 15th, 2015 at 03:44 am 1450151079
I basically just get stuff for my nuclear family (partners & kids) and my parents. Luckily my siblings don't exchange gifts. Once in a while one of them will get inspired and send something, but it's not a regular thing. Lots of people like to get gifts for our kids (grandparents, some of my siblings, some child-free friends) but we wouldn't notice if they all stopped doing it. Hopefully they just see stuff they want to get them and don't feel any obligation!
December 15th, 2015 at 05:05 am 1450155944