Cheerful Frugality Says “Enough!”
2 weeks to Christmas. My anxious mother calls. "Do you think you have enough presents for the kids? You'd better run out and buy them a sled."
"Oh, Mom," I sigh. "You do this every year. The kids have some of what they want and all of what they need."
Yet 2 hours later, I'm on Toys'RUs.com looking at Flexible Flyers.
So how do you fight the temptation to keep piling on the holiday cheer? My Domestic Church remembers that the first Christmas was in a cold, barren cave. The Reluctant Entertainer decides to bag up more than she brings in.
The key to saving money is knowing when to say "ENOUGH!" (And if necessary, to shout it from the rooftops!)
Try it. It feels great.
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9 Responses to “Cheerful Frugality Says “Enough!””
December 15th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Thank you for the reminder. It’s easy to find the deals, hard to know when to quit!
December 15th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I do a huge purge of our house after Thanksgiving. I’m part of a huge Bargain Sale that my Junior League puts on every year. Most of what I round up goes toward that sale.
I also make a list. And then I stick to it.
I spend cash. NEVER credit. I use my debit card knowing that if I go over my limit: I just won’t have any money left in the bank, I’ll have to return some gifts (no matter how badly I want my nieces and nephews to have them), and my husband will be disappointed (which I HATE).
I make sure there is no “down” time on Christmas Day. We are immediately immersed in games (that were recieved as gifts) or we go outside to play or we make Christmas cookies.
December 15th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
You think not having kids would make my husband and I immune to this but I’ll admit having a tree with no presents under it is a bit depressing. Instead of buying more for ourselves we bought some more stuff to donate to our church for needy families. The presents have to be brought in on the 21st but in the meantime they are dressing up the space under the tree.
December 15th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I have to fight the feeling of ‘buying more’ after I have said that I am done Christmas shopping. Yes, our children have enough presents-but all those last minute bargains this year are really tempting me.
I literally have to STAY OUT of all stores the final weeks before Christmas. I make hubby do the last minute grocery runs.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
For the last 2 or 3 years we have bought one big present for all of our children to share, confident that the grandparents and other relatives will buy enough smaller ones to fill the space under the tree.
It’s worked out beautifully and I don’t find myself asking if I need to get just a few more gifts for one child or another. They’re all covered at once and it’s not hard to just *quit* thinking about it.
December 16th, 2008 at 6:35 am
To save us from getting in that habits (since our little ones are still small), we started a tradition of “Jesus got 3 presents at the manger, so you get three presents under the tree.”
December 16th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I am doing the same thing with my kids and so is my MOM!!!! yes, it does need to stop. Thankfully there is only one week left. I am determined to be completely done shopping by Friday since that is my kids’ last day of school. I refuse to take them with me shopping!
December 16th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
This is so hard for me. I definitely asked everyone to cut back what they buy for my 4 year old twins and intended to that myself but I started shopping too early when I saw deals and now ended up with way too much (and it was mostly bought 4+ months ago and can not be returned!)
OK…I will try better next year to keep track and/or shop later.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Sending a big AMEN!!! to that post. We set a limit early in the season and stick to it (one storebought, one small second-hand or purchased gift, and one or two handmade gifts). By the week before Christmas, it doesn’t seem like much, but each year, it is enough!
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