You may know I'm not one for getting things done way in advance, so I haven't
exactly started my Christmas shopping yet. You're shocked, I know. The reality is I just can't partake in the Black Friday madness.
However, when I do start my trek to the stores, this blondie will have a plan. It's easy to make a budget but STICKING to it is an entirely different story. I'm no financial expert. Trust. But I do try my best not to live above my means and Christmas is no different. Here are my three steps to help you avoid a holiday spending hangover in January. You know how much I hate a hangover.
Organization makes life so much easier, this I know. So before you even start your shopping, use a free printable like the one below to decide who you want and need to buy gifts for. This little diddy will help you plan, purchase, wrap and ship all while tracking what you're spending on each loved one.
Decide how much you can
afford to spend on each person. This step is not rocket science, just refer to the chart below:
Plan a shopping agenda by keeping an eye out for in-store and online sales.
More importantly, before you leave the house to shop, promise yourself you’ll stick to your agenda. If you have enough self control to mentally do this, high five. I, however, know how easy it is to swipe a card. Who me? Yes, me. To help with this, use an
envelope budgeting system.
But what the eff is envelope budgeting Lindsey? Well, friend, it is when you have an envelope for each person you are buying for. After you complete steps one and two, you should know exactly how much you can afford to spend on each one of your peeps. You take that amount of cash out and put it in each person's envelope. Easy peasy. Just don't spend any more on them that the cash in their envelope.
The moral of the story here is:
If you can't afford it, don't buy it. If only it were that easy. I can promise you that your family and friends will love you just the same. Happy shopping bargainistas!
amazing post!
ReplyDeleteThe envelope method sounds SO helpful!
ReplyDeleteAmazing post as usual!!
xo
Such great tips!! I had recently heard of the envelope thing and I didn't realize how many people used it! Such a smart idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips! Everyone knows I like to spoil people and sadly I don't think it's going to happen this year... :o(
I'm almost done shopping for this year (where was this post a month ago??), but the envelope thing definitely sounds good for next year, I think.
ReplyDeleteDo you follow Dave Ramsey? He would be proud of this post and your evelopes! I've been using envelopes for a few months now on various things (groceries, clothes, etc.) so I don't overspend! Works like a charm once the shock wears off ;)
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, BTW!
damnit i wish i had done this before i spent all my monies!!! will have to try this when i am in London!
ReplyDeleteGreat great tips!!
ReplyDeleteI've found also that because SO many of the people I shop for require me to ship their gifts - buying online is THE way to go. I will ONLY buy if there is free shipping. On top of that, I find the best price out there, and then I look at my credit card's reward site to see how much cashback I can get shopping through them (usually 5-25%!). For retailers that aren't partnered with Discover, I use Ebates. I mean why not, free $$!
If I do my Christmas shopping early enough, my rewards points come in before December and I can redeem them for gift cards to retailers (every $20 reward can snag me a $25 gift card). Not too shabby!! It's all about having a plan :)
Love this!! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeletegreat tips linds;
ReplyDeletei miss ya girly
honestly friend. this will really help me and i'm printing that gift list sheet out now. i've only gotten gifts for the bay-bay's as of yet but this will help.
ReplyDeleteand i've done the envelope system before.
but seriously...i love this post.
I love the envelope budgeting! That is a really good idea!
ReplyDeleteseriously. you are so smart.
ReplyDeletethank you.
The envelope idea is genius! I should do this. I tend to go way over and then I'm like oh shit what did I do!! Very insightful post miss Lindsey :)
ReplyDeleteLol, the first quote is so funny :) I love the little list on step two, really cute.
ReplyDeletelove the idea of envelope budgeting! Such a good idea =]
ReplyDeleteIs this truly my daughter? Your mom is impressed!! Love you lots.
ReplyDeleteOh what a great post.. timely too. I love the idea to put cash in to the envelopes.. Luckily in my husbands family we draw names for gifts so we're not responsible to buy for everyone.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME POST! and so right on! this year hubby and i put $10 a week aside the day after Christmas last year ... it has been an amazingly easy time this year to buy Christmas gifts. no stress whatsoever. i can't imagine not doing it this way. smartest thing we ever thought up to do! :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this! Its so true! I always hear people talk about buying gifts they cant afford and I always wonder why they do it!
ReplyDeletePS I asked Chris about the people you knew from Langham and he's friends/knows them! Small world!
well aren't you just so smart!!! I do the master list too. Love it! I should for real do those envelopes. I have a tendency to over-do... of course :)
ReplyDeleteThis is sooo Dave Ramsey. Such a great idea, but what about online shopping? Thanks for stopping by! The part of Slovenia we went to was near Northern Italy and it was small townish with a few casinos. You definitely should try paneer if you like veggies or chicken curry if youre more meat inclined. yum!
ReplyDeleteI have been LOOKING for a gift list like this!! LOVE it!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteooh this is such a good idea! the envelope thing is geniussss. a little annoying to be carrying around all those envelopes, but if that's what ya gotta do, you gotta do it. thanks girl :)
ReplyDeleteso this post is amazing. You are like the super cool hot Dave Ramsey with super long blonde hair. I need to do this however, we only buy for the kids in the fam and Colt is too young to even know the difference so I'm not even buying him anything. Is that totally bad? Am I horrible mom? With the money I save, I will totally stock my house up on extra alcohol so when you come visit we can be trashed the whole time k?
ReplyDeletelove you.
Awesome ideas! I immediately printed out the master gift list! Thanks!
ReplyDelete