Christmas 2010

[mammajigglypuff]

Okay I know it's only January 2010, but how many of you have already started thinking about Christmas.
Since I am on a very limited income and I only have a few people to buy for I decided to start putting $10-$25 a month on a Wal-Mart gift card for them. I am also "hiding" all the $1 bills I get from change and will add that to the card when I go to the store.
When you do it this way you'll be surprised at how much you can save in 12 months.

[BuddyBeanieBaby]

What a great idea...

I have been buying for Christmas 2010...never too early to start...

Smiles & Hugs...

[mammajigglypuff]

thanks. when your on a set income that won't go up but prices will you have to think early.

[ajrsmom]

I think that using gift cards like that is a great idea!

I've been thinking of using my second checking acct. as a Christmas Club acct. and tucking money away. The only problem with that is that I know it's there every week when I pay bills. I don't want to be tempted to use it so I might just put cash in an envelope and tuck it away.

[BuddyBeanieBaby]

Tami I used to save all my loonies and toonies(Canadian Crazy Money...lol...not really but that is what the $1.00 & $2.00 are called here)and managed to save over $1,800.00 one year...which is pretty good for me because I love to shop on eBay...lol

Smiles & Hugs...

[kathymac]

Every year I tell myself that I'm going to get started early and put aside a little bit of money all year, but I never seem to do it. I love the idea of putting it on a gift card or cards. That might just work as I can add to it when I'm doing other shopping.

[Pag36]

I have bought 3 gifts already and adding slow but sure onto gift card for Wal-Mart my bro and sis sent to Judy but not telling her. Will give it to her late Nov to buy gifts for Gina/Adam & Steven this coming Christmas. I save all the "G" dollars and loose change towards my b'day get away in Oct. I never noticed the letters on the bills before or would have been doing it years ago. I save A's for Adam, B for Steven (his last name) J's for Judy and L's for Stacie (her maiden name they don't have S's if they did would have been saving them for Steven)
I too am on fixed income so have to do shopping all year.
Theresa I have only bought one thing years ago from Ebay, a panda windchime as Adam loves them. Have not been on the site or Amazon in ages.
Happy shopping everyone

[Bilby]

My 47yo BIL cracked a tantrum at christmas this year, insults were aimed at dh and I and they were bad and untrue ..................
2010 we want to run away for the week or failing that tell everyone we are running away and just lock our doors LOL

..... apart from that not had any reay thoughts yet

[susiec]

mmmm, every year I think about starting early or saving money especially as my DS and DD birthdays are in November, a week apart, but I never seem to get organised. However, I will be a student from sept 2010 with no income and fees to pay so I think it will be wise to start saving now.
susie

[gorilla]

I try to make as many gifts as I can. So I start getting my ideas for gifts even before Christmas for the following year. I figure out what supplies I will need to make them and make a list. Then, whenever they are on sale for 30% or 40% or 50% off I start stocking up on supplies. I know how many people I want to make each item for (and usually make a couple extra of each thing for someone I may have forgotten), so I know how much to buy. And since I am usually not getting all the supplies at the same time, I can also spread out paying for them. I also use 40% and 50% off coupons very heavily. And I can really create a lot of gifts for a surprisingly small amount.