M is for Money

I, the unabashed procrastinator, have finished my Christmas shopping! It’s not even December yet, I’ve never been done this early before. I’ve even ventured out on Christmas Eve for last minute gifts in past years.

My goal with shopping early was two fold – one to stay within budget and two to enjoy the holidays more. I go over budget every year, mainly as I rush through last minute shopping. I never have an advance plan for gift giving, so I go over by buying too much. Plus, with online shopping I then have to pay extra for expedited delivery. This year I started gathering gift ideas early and set up a spreadsheet to track my spending. By keeping an eye on my bottom line, I stopped spending before running over. By shopping early I was able to use free shipping offers, which typically take ten days for delivery. I also used ebates, which had a double cash back promotion yesterday for Black Friday. I didn’t keep an exact total, I earned around $17 in cash back on $270 spent, 6.5%. I can’t wait for that ebates check.

The Christmas Budget

Today I bought ribbon, wrap and bows, a few final gifts and a tree stand. Last time I made the mistake of buying a cheap stand, it wouldn’t fit even a smallish tree trunk and was ruined in one use. Today’s purchase should last years. The only things remaining are a few cards and a tree, I have $48 left in my budget. With a little luck I’ll make it. In a way I’ve come in under budget. I threw in a few gifts for myself with that money, he he.

A Relaxing Holiday

Last minute preparation is stressful, by shopping early I’ve taken some of the burden off of the busy holiday season. I can now wrap gifts at my leisure, make Christmas cookies and decorate the tree. I don’t need to go to the mall and fight for parking. I hope to relax and savor the season.