Here we are at Day #3 in the MomDot Blog Party and as you can see my entry is late!  I have been so busy lately but hopefully after today I will be able to post in a timely manner.  I will have to make this entry short as I am on my way to a party so here goes…

DAY THREE QUESTION

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?  Do you budget for the holidays?  Do you always stick to your budget?  Share with us any budgeting tips you may have!

Sponsors: Day Three Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Appledonia, Hippos Toes and My Bag

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Yes, I have started my Christmas shopping.  By this time of year I always have.  Does this mean that I won’t be racing around on Christmas Eve?  No way.  I could start my Christmas shopping the day after Christmas and still not have everything done by Christmas Eve!  That’s just me though.  I try so hard to start by September and I usually do grab a few thing to put away.  This year I have a few things and will be kicking into high(er) gear in the next week or two.

I absolutely budget for the holidays.  Every year my husband has the same “budget” discussion with me.  We both have the best intentions.  We create all kinds of lists.  We have lists of gift recipients, list of gifts ideas, list of gift ideas matching gift recipients, lists of $$ caps on gifts, lists of gifts by children, lists for our different family members, lists of what each person has cost so far, lists of what we’ve spent in total so far – you get the idea.  We NEVER see our lists through to the end.  Somewhere in the mix we become overwhelmed and the list goes out the window.  Evey year I blow the budget.  Every year I have to apologize to my husband for ditching his lists and blowing the budget.  I don’t know what happens to me!  Every year my poor husband is shocked how much I go over budget.  Poor guy, he really is truly shocked even though he should really have an inkling from the year before and the year before that year.  He applauds me on a job well done and every year I give him the shocker AND he is TRULY caught off guard.  Could he really image that I could get everything done and taken care of everyone for the price he has imagined in his head?

Having said all that, this year I am really sticking to a budget.  Tough times are upon us all and I would really like the focus this year to be on spending time with family as opposed to gift giving.  I would like to see my children focusing on giving instead of receiving.