How early is to early to start thinking about Christmas presents? Maybe it is never to early to start thinking about them. I am on a limited budget for presents but I definitely want to maximize my gift giving ability this year and the years to come. So, what can I do to help me along?
I remember being younger and on vacations with my family. During those summer vacations my mother would buy some Christmas presents. She would find things she thought others would like and buy those items. At the time, I did not understand fully why she did that. How odd to be buying Christmas presents in July!! Now, as I have grown older and am working, I completely understand why she has done this!! I try to do this myself when I can. I have started a snowman ornament collection for my sister and every year when they come out, I take my little happy self down to Hallmark and buy the current years ornament. I may do that in September or as soon as I have the money and know it is out. Too early? No way!! I know that is one present I will not have to buy and will be on my way to buying other presents for the family.
Back in 2009 I began to learn to knit. I had surgery and afterwards, would not be able to do a whole lot for several weeks after. What the heck am I going to do sitting at home? I was decades behind on soap operas and would not even recognize the people on them now so i decided to learn to knit. It has worked out great as I have given some knitted items for Christmas - dishclothes, knitted bags, scarves. I am working to complete to larger blankets for at least two family members for next year. Yes, you read that right, I did say next year. I hope that the family members that receive these gifts will keep them, and then use them for many years to come. I can remember receiving some blankets that my grandmother crocheted and have fond memories of her every time I see those blankets. That is what I want with my knitted gifts to do for the family members. Plus, knitting a gift adds a personal touch to things. I hope those who receive these gifts will proudly use them as well.
Buying early and making gifts on a budget allows me to give gifts I can be proud of giving. Not having to rush out and buy gift cards in the hopes that I do not look too thoughtless in giving them as gifts. Do not get me wrong, gift cards can be a nice way for someone to buy a little something for themself at a store they may normally not go to but I like to actually think of what someone might like, buy or make it for them and then give it to them at Christmas.
It is never too early to plan for gifts at Christmas. In fact, you may stress less. You will be in no hurry to get gifts and can take lesiurely strolls in the mall in December to enjoy the mall decorations and know that you have completed your Christmas shopping early and do not have to hurry, hurry, rush, rush to get gifts you hope someone likes.
Good luck!!
Jennifer
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Groceries Need to Marry Coupons......Again
Husband and I went grocery shopping a few weeks ago at a different store - not Harris Teeter. Usually, I can do groceries at Harris Teeter and save some money. This time I suggested we do another store and I did not do so well. Even Husband said I did better at Harris Teeter. The bad thing is that I have let my coupon gathering fall by the wayside. Not good!!
I think that the groceries we buy need to hook back up with coupons. I need to start paying more attention to getting coupons and using them effectively with buying my groceries. When Husband said something, I knew I had messed up!
This made me realize that this coupon collecting and using needs to be a continous process but I also need to start doing some menu planning. Menu planning could help me to plan my grocery shopping trips. One thing I have been doing is making some food to see if Husband and Family Member will like them. I try to make enough for all of us to eat and possibly have some leftovers for the next day. I have come up with a few things that we like that I could do throughout the month. I do not want to become in a menu planning rut either. I do not want to eat the same things every two weeks. I am trying to rotate food and possibly have enough that we will not get tired of it and save some money as well.
How do you help save money on your groceries? Any tips will help me as well!!
Jenn
I think that the groceries we buy need to hook back up with coupons. I need to start paying more attention to getting coupons and using them effectively with buying my groceries. When Husband said something, I knew I had messed up!
This made me realize that this coupon collecting and using needs to be a continous process but I also need to start doing some menu planning. Menu planning could help me to plan my grocery shopping trips. One thing I have been doing is making some food to see if Husband and Family Member will like them. I try to make enough for all of us to eat and possibly have some leftovers for the next day. I have come up with a few things that we like that I could do throughout the month. I do not want to become in a menu planning rut either. I do not want to eat the same things every two weeks. I am trying to rotate food and possibly have enough that we will not get tired of it and save some money as well.
How do you help save money on your groceries? Any tips will help me as well!!
Jenn
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Razors and My Budget
At first, you may wonder what razors have to do with my budget. Well, with the way things cost these days, I have started really thinking about purchases, the costs of different items and the money I have to spend on some items. So, razors have just as much weight in my spending as even food and gas have in my budget.
I really like the lady razors that have the shave solid around the razors. I did not have to buy a razor and shaving cream/lotion, I could just buy the one item and be done with it. So far, there are only two different types of razors that have the shave solid around them and I just could not bring myself to buy either one of the replacement blade packages for them. The price of the replacement blades were a few cents more than buying a new razor all together. I am standing in the local drugstore on my lunch break debating which one, do I get a new razor or do I go with a regular razor and some shave cream. Yep, I was seriously going back and forth with "Which one do I get?" and "Do I really want to spend that much on it?" in my little brain.
Well, buying a new razor, replacement blades and some shave gel won out. The price was more economical for me and my budget. Plus with some buy one get one half off sale on the razor and replacement blades, I could not lose! The shave gel was on sale and I got two bottles of it.
I really like the lady razors that have the shave solid around the razors. I did not have to buy a razor and shaving cream/lotion, I could just buy the one item and be done with it. So far, there are only two different types of razors that have the shave solid around them and I just could not bring myself to buy either one of the replacement blade packages for them. The price of the replacement blades were a few cents more than buying a new razor all together. I am standing in the local drugstore on my lunch break debating which one, do I get a new razor or do I go with a regular razor and some shave cream. Yep, I was seriously going back and forth with "Which one do I get?" and "Do I really want to spend that much on it?" in my little brain.
Well, buying a new razor, replacement blades and some shave gel won out. The price was more economical for me and my budget. Plus with some buy one get one half off sale on the razor and replacement blades, I could not lose! The shave gel was on sale and I got two bottles of it.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Rambling Thoughts of the Sick
This past weekend I developed some sort of cold. It is not fun and after some trial with one over the counter medicine, I switched to a different one. The different one has helped a lot more than the first. The pressure has been taken away from my sinuses and I feel like I can do better at work. I have a medicine that I can use at night but I do not like to take it when I have to go to work the next morning as I still feel a little loopy. I will save that for the weekend!!
This lead me to think about being sick. People can usually tell if you have a cold or are not feeling well. You find medicine that helps ease the symptoms so you can go about your day and do what you need to do. But how can you tell if someone has a money sickness? I do not think you can. There are times that you can tell that someone is having financial difficulties - they may sell some of their items to make extra money, take on a part time job on top of their full time job, cut some corners with different stuff and that list could go on and on. But if someone seems all together, how do you tell they are financially sick?
As I have been doing lots of thinking about my finances and where I would like to go, I have noticed I have slacked off a bit with working on my budget. I have been exploring things like meal planning, coupons, sale racks, wearing stuff out before buying another item to replace it and even just going without because it does not make sense financially to do it. I just have not been putting in the extra effort to follow through with some of these things. That has been a downfall for me, I think. Wishing will not make it happen here for me, I must do. I must follow through. I must admit things to myself. I must stand in the truth of the situation and not be wearing my blinders. I must get my finances better. I must start following through. It has to get better because I do not want it to get worse. I have noticed a lot more thinking about things before I do them. Am I over thinking it? Possibly but at least I am starting to think about how buying something on a whim or because I "think" I need it will effect my money.
I have also went and bought a little notebook to start writing some financial goals down. I think if I see these goals, I might do better at striving to meet them the best way I can. I also think that sitting down with Husband a few times a week to discuss where we are and where both of us want to go might help too. He is part of the equation here so I should include him with this. That may be hard to do but I would rather be on the same page than have an argument over something that is not worth it. I do find that he has some good ideas and can help me to see things in a different light.
Now, I wil have to follow through to start making my money feel better. Oh it is gonna be hard but well worth it!!
This lead me to think about being sick. People can usually tell if you have a cold or are not feeling well. You find medicine that helps ease the symptoms so you can go about your day and do what you need to do. But how can you tell if someone has a money sickness? I do not think you can. There are times that you can tell that someone is having financial difficulties - they may sell some of their items to make extra money, take on a part time job on top of their full time job, cut some corners with different stuff and that list could go on and on. But if someone seems all together, how do you tell they are financially sick?
As I have been doing lots of thinking about my finances and where I would like to go, I have noticed I have slacked off a bit with working on my budget. I have been exploring things like meal planning, coupons, sale racks, wearing stuff out before buying another item to replace it and even just going without because it does not make sense financially to do it. I just have not been putting in the extra effort to follow through with some of these things. That has been a downfall for me, I think. Wishing will not make it happen here for me, I must do. I must follow through. I must admit things to myself. I must stand in the truth of the situation and not be wearing my blinders. I must get my finances better. I must start following through. It has to get better because I do not want it to get worse. I have noticed a lot more thinking about things before I do them. Am I over thinking it? Possibly but at least I am starting to think about how buying something on a whim or because I "think" I need it will effect my money.
I have also went and bought a little notebook to start writing some financial goals down. I think if I see these goals, I might do better at striving to meet them the best way I can. I also think that sitting down with Husband a few times a week to discuss where we are and where both of us want to go might help too. He is part of the equation here so I should include him with this. That may be hard to do but I would rather be on the same page than have an argument over something that is not worth it. I do find that he has some good ideas and can help me to see things in a different light.
Now, I wil have to follow through to start making my money feel better. Oh it is gonna be hard but well worth it!!
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