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I thought I wrapped up the shopping this weekend, but got a message one ordered item is no longer available. Back to the drawing board. I have odds and ends local items to pick up the days before and food shopping, but I like when gift shopping is done. I also might change a gift after I got a suggestion from one sister for another. ( We draw names.) I'll wrap up this weekend so I can enjoy the rest of the season, with anything that I'll use a credit card on by the 10th, so nothing rolls into January for expenses. It's definitely not thrifty to go all in on Christmas. I spend within our means, shop local when possible, and not on clutter items, so on those principles, I'm following my definition of personal economy. Here's my list of thrift for the week.
- Earned $10 more in Kohl's cash when I finished shopping, and think I might just apply that to replace the item that was cancelled. This will end up reducing the overall Kohl's bill by $10 as they still gave credit for the purchase even after cancellation.
- Saved leftovers from Saturdays lunch out and ate for Monday lunch
- Made the bargain pinto bean, potato, and squash soup. It fed us twice, plus a lunch portions, and I sent a jar with my daughter.
- Brought my water bottle and coffee from home for Mondays meeting
- Passed on ordering in food, even though the meeting went passed lunch time. I had eaten a snack on route, and had something for lunch waiting at home.
- With it being definite that DS won't be home until after Christmas, I sent a Swiss Colony care package, layering two codes that got shipping included, plus both a tin of chocolates, and 24, petit fours. He has enjoyed this the last two years when he wasn't home. He has to work with just perhaps the two day holiday off, but this at least provides sustenance with a cheery spin.
- The concert was a bargain on Friday considering tickets were $20 less than the Chanhassen for same show, with no intermission treats and cocktails provided. Seriously, check out small towns for the arts, and you may get an enjoyable experience without the big city price tag, crowds, and parking hassle.
- I loaded Fetch and played MS Rewards. I'll look for Ibotta deals. I decided to cash in $20 in Fetch and $15 in MS Rewards. These will round out little treats, or just be used for personal needs to stretch our budget.
- We won Trivia so another $30 towards our Wednesday evenings out.
- We escaped the pet store where puppy classes are without buying more cute things and toys.
We're settling out November a bit late and I'll be transferring to savings, and getting cash set asides for gifts. I've got to send a check to his brother for their mom's gift. Now that I know my contributions to the holiday meals, I can look for the best prices on ham, puff pastry, and cheeses. December paychecks will be missed when January rolls in as both no 401K funds come out as I hit my max, and it's a three paycheck month. That goofs timing up the following month for paying bills, but I like having 26 rather than 24 paychecks. How was your week for thrift? Are you just plodding along or did you have any big wins?
I forked out $$$$$$ to daughter when furnace died unexpectedly during a huge snowstorm where she lived. I told her that covered birthdays and Christmas until I croaked and that was her inheritance……lol. She offered to pay back but I don’t do loans, although it did clean out my emergency fund. Just glad I had it bc there have been times in my life where I have not had two nickels to rub together. So other than that huge budget buster, I don’t really do presents except a Barbie doll for grandchild. Will give three sons a little cash or pay a bill or two for them or maybe buy a phone for one who has a 7 yrs old phone. I don’t have extended family to buy for and don’t do presents generally at work but will help out a struggling single coworker. I prefer to give to those I know have an issue rather than give to charities, but that is just me. I have always been ticked off at how much the CEO salary is at Goodwill. Your soup sounds fabulous. I adores potatoes, and squash or pumpkin, and know I would like that. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteI too have helped with big expenses over the years, then did much less for gifts. Having a Christmas in a house that's warm is far better gift than another sweater or cheese box. Having worked in nonprofit most of my career, I don't begrudge proportional decent salaries of hard working NGO executives, but I got frustrated at layers of executive's that seemed more about vanity and ego than mission essential, but then they low balled staff salaries and we had a constant revolving door, which really hurt getting good work done.
DeleteYes, it seems the hard working staff is always severely underpaid but the CEO’s make bank. Cindy in the South
DeleteHaving 26 pay checks is indeed very nice but I agree that it can mess up "the system" somewhat. Heck it took me ages to get used to getting paid every two weeks when I lived in the States (we get paid monthly here)! And I'm with you on getting gifts wrapped ahead of time (I've got mine all done now) as I HATE the pressure of doing this just before Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMy husbands wholesale jib was once be a month,100% commission based pay. That was always a dicey period of time. I made so little in those days, child care taking more than 50% of my take home, but I carried the health insurance.
DeleteI need to pick up a gift card for Nick (on behalf of my sister), but otherwise, I believe I'm done with my shopping. I'll have to go through my list & double check. I also need to get cash together to reimburse my sister for the shopping for all of the meals (we travel, so this works best). Or, give her the Costco card we have on hand, as that's where she shops.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, it's was just the usual. Making up meals that used leftovers, listing some stuff on eBay, etc. Nothing exciting.
I want the cash set aside before we close November. I have today off, sort of, so can do those things. I like that you contribute to your hosting sibling. I'm shocked my grown nieces and nephews a with families of their own, just show up for gatherings with no thought to the cost to the hosts. This is on both sides, and their parents don't seem to iver contribute for their own families portions.My children do, without thought and that pleases me.
DeleteI haven’t made any progress on my Christmas shopping since last week, though I did pick up the rest of the ingredients for my holiday goodies. I’m definitely making caramel corn today and will gift that to our work UPS driver. I do plan on baking at least one other thing today, maybe more. My employee discount goes to 50% off tomorrow so I plan on buying some jewelry for my niece, that will finish her off. I dropped off those two bags at goodwill and had to stop in. Found a nice buffalo plaid flannel to update my Christmas wardrobe for the season. We decided against doing gifts at work. I couldn’t stand the thought of exchanging with the store manager that makes my blood boil anyways, so saves me money and stress. JoAnn
ReplyDeleteApparently we have decided to do the gift exchange after all. And go to dinner. I’m fuming.
DeleteI'm sorry plans changed. Gee, with you working long days, I wonder why you wouldn't want even more time with work people. The buffalo plaid addition to your wardrobe sounds cute. I splurged on a powder blue, not quite Christmas color, but cozy, new sweater, and got a green one for my birthday so considering those my new additions.
DeleteI haven't even started my shopping, but I have forked out enough $$$$ to my daughter, that her Christmas present is covered for a long freaking time!!!
ReplyDeleteDoes she even expect more than a token gift or one at all? Gift giving shouldn't cause financial hardship. I insist to my kids to give from the heart, but in their means.
DeleteI've been so poorly these past few days that I missed out on some paid work. Thankfully my earnings just go into our emergency fund so weren't needed. Most of my big shopping is done and this year we've cut back hugely on what we spend on presents
ReplyDeleteI cut back too, though our portion of the group gift iwatch for his mom alone was over what I was thinking. But, it has added safety so peace of mind with it, which you can't put a price tag on.
DeleteNo attempt at thrift these days what with Christmas time.
ReplyDelete