https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 22 May 2026 03:44:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1936619 Sun, 09 Nov 2014 13:18:44 +0000 cmomma17 1936619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrswin: that is really smart to have the money saved up by October! Great tip! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1936305 Sat, 08 Nov 2014 21:53:31 +0000 mrswin 1936305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: We set a budget for each person we buy for, estimate for wrapping/décor, groceries and travel expenses depending on where we are going to be for the holiday. Then we take the total and divide by 10 and then put that amount away each month so that by October I have all the money we need for the whole season. This is the first year we have done this and so far it has been fantastic, way less stressful than usual! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1936039 Sat, 08 Nov 2014 15:21:35 +0000 travellingbee 1936039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: We just started this this year too! Already loving the lack of stress! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1936025 Sat, 08 Nov 2014 15:03:44 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1936025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I set a dollar amount for each person we buy for. I try to do most of the shopping on black Friday weekend. </p> <p>We don't have to buy for too many people - we draw names on both sides of the family so that's two people on each side (DH draws a name, and I draw a name). Plus on my side we all buy for my parents, and all the grandkids/nieces/nephews. There are three grandkids on my side and three on DH's side.<br /> We do buy for each other, and our son. We set limits for that as well. We try to keep all Christmas spending under $500 total - it just gets to be so much and Christmas time is definitely tight for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935917 Sat, 08 Nov 2014 12:30:26 +0000 Grace 1935917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We set limits for each person, travel comes from airmiles. But mainly, I've always gotten a work bonus in November and presents always came out of that. Our year-end changed this year and now we don't get bonuses until February. So there's been more charging and less budgetting this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935898 Sat, 08 Nov 2014 12:02:34 +0000 cmomma17 1935898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: ooh I might give this challenge a shot in 2015! Or a modified version! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935897 Sat, 08 Nov 2014 12:00:58 +0000 Mrs. D 1935897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we don't budget, we just set limits. we're trying to keep gifts to a minimum, our girl doesn't need a ton of things and she has enough toys. we'll get her one big toy (this year a tablet), and a stocking full of crap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935256 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:39:04 +0000 Bao 1935256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: @gingerbebe: yeah that one is, there's this one though, too! Which I'm more familiar with. I didn't even realize that one was in reverse, oops! </p> [attach=1420/14/neout4.338x600.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935248 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:32:43 +0000 coopsmama 1935248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't budgeted in our 3 married Christmases and it has created a lot of stress. Gah. We need to be better about it. </p> <p>I just wish that our extended families weren't so big on gifts. I don't need/want anything and would be totally fine with just buying my kids a couple gifts to have something to open on Christmas day and calling that good. But instead we get thrown into 3 family secret Santa drawing which totals gifts for 12 more people. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935246 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:31:35 +0000 fairy 1935246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tend to buy gifts throughout the year so that it isn't a big expense all at once. But we also budget for gift spending and don't usually end up spending all that we allot because we don't buy a lot of gifts (my family draws names so that cuts down on it a lot). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935230 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:25:52 +0000 gingerbebe 1935230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Isn't it in reverse? You put $52 in the first week, and then it decreases each week. So it gets easier as the year progresses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935225 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:23:46 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1935225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: maybe i read it wrong, but it looks like you start high and then put in less every week? But that means the first month you put in over $200, which is a ton if you arent used to saving! I guess i am just simple haha :) if tou just set aside $100 per month you would have $1200 in a year...i like that math better i think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935211 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:18:26 +0000 Bao 1935211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: that's a good point too, I suppose in the beginning it would be easier with the $1 week one but towards the end it would get overwhelming. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935182 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:05:41 +0000 yoursilverlining 1935182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: We generally do this too and it's worked out really, really well. </p> <p>This year I just spent the bulk of our points on plane tickets, but in the past we’ve easily had $700 worth of points or more racked up by November even with using points for things throughout the year and I’ll use those to order a ton of gifts online. I also like to hit local craft fairs and stuff, and I don’t really track what I spend there, I just try not to spend too much. </p> <p>We also don't buy for a ton of people, which helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935139 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:55:38 +0000 youboots 1935139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I shop year round. I buy multiples of gifts that I really like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pantone-Color-Mini-Board-Books/dp/1419704192/ref=reg_hu-br_mrai-recs" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Pantone-Color-Mini-Board-Books/dp/1419704192/ref=reg_hu-br_mrai-recs</a> I have a 'gift nightstand' in the guest room where I stash gifts I've picked up. My MIL collects an antique China pattern and when I see a piece she does not have I buy it and stash it. My Mom loves Smart Wool socks so I snag a pair at the Rack if I see a unique pattern. M and I do not exchange gifts. We have been doing stockings since we seem to have guests Christmas morning every year, but in the past we skipped it. I stock up on pantry items when they are on sale.</p> <p>This year we hired our wedding photographer to do family photos that included MIL, M's grandparents, Aunt Uncle and cousins, BIL, SIL and nephew and my parents. Each family got a little photo sessions and we had several larger group shots. It covered almost all the gifts we would have had to buy. We are gifting a USB of the images they are in and a few prints. Then they can use the images on their Christmas cards. We will likely do that every other year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935126 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:50:28 +0000 lamariniere 1935126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't because we buy very few gifts. I think each kid is getting one gift this year. We/they just don't NEED anything. That said, the holidays aren't a big deal to us, we don't do Santa, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935121 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:48:42 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1935121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: wouldnt it be easier to budget by taking that total and just dividing it by 52 so it isnt constantly changing? I think that would drive me crazy, constantly having to change how much i was depositing. I think i am too type a for that haha :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935118 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:48:00 +0000 Mae 1935118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a cash rewards credit card we use to pay for EVERYTHING throughout the year and I always wait to cash out my rewards until it's time to pay for Christmas gifts. That usually covers 1/2-3/4 of the gifts. The rest we pull from savings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935113 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:44:26 +0000 Bao 1935113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: going to do that!! I'll put it right in the Christmas club account, I image it would get difficult towards those end weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935083 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:33:54 +0000 .twist. 1935083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: Same! lol!</p> <p>@Mrs. Champagne: WOAH. That is super cool. Thanks! :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935070 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:25:34 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 1935070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bao. Have you seen this? Too late for this year but good for next </p> [attach=2620/14/neoriz.600x469.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935059 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:20:24 +0000 yellowbird 1935059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We budget for it on a yearly basis, and we have also cut waaaaaaaaay back on those that get gifts from us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935047 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:14:29 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1935047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: :) i should add that when i say we dont have to worry about spending, that doesnt mean endless amounts of money....we really dont have room in our budget for much. it just means the money we spend we know where it is coming from ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935042 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:12:48 +0000 gingerbebe 1935042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For 2 years, we had a "family fund" line item in our budget where we'd allocate money on a monthly basis for any expenses we'd incur on extended family over the year. This included Christmas, birthdays, holidays, and any travel to see them. We basically estimated what we'd spent the previous year and divided it by 12. DH has a LOT of relatives and their family is REALLY into gift giving and card sending for EVERY. LITTLE. OCCASION. I wanted to do the family fund allocation because I wanted DH to see how much money we spent every year on his family (I only have 2 parents and 1 brother and we just give 1 gift for major holidays, instead of his family, who give multiple gifts for every single holiday). After seeing how much money we had to put away every month, DH agreed we needed to buckle down and cut down the expenses.</p> <p>We stopped doing the budget line item after 2 years after we agreed to reduce spending per person and I started getting into a predictable rhythm on those expenses. For instance, there are a TON of family birthdays in April, then there's Easter, then Mother's Day, then Father's Day, so we start shopping right away in January, February, and March to balance those months out. I also bargain shop all year round for Christmas and keep a big box in my closet where I dump gifts with post-it notes IDing who the gift is for (because I will forget). I literally opened a Kohl's charge just to buy Christmas presents for DH's family. Once you stack all these different online coupons (which is always higher for cardholders) and throw in free shipping (always a code out there for cardholders), I can get things for pennies on the dollar. So I start intensely shopping for Christmas in June and usually have most things wrapped up by August. There's usually 4-5 gifts I have to wait to buy closer to the holiday, but I can always budget for it in September and October, since November and December will be expensive in terms of travel and what not. </p> <p>For travel, we watch fares beginning in August for Christmas time and usually pull the trigger in September. We get cheaper tickets by flying in mid-December (December 13-17th is usually the sweet spot) and then returning either the evening of Christmas Day or on another day that's cheaper. This year, we found the cheaper flight was on New Year's Eve, so we extended our stay with the inlaws until then. We also switched DH's business card to Southwest and have been putting all of his expenses on it and just scored basically free tickets for Christmas time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935029 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:06:44 +0000 looch 1935029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't really, because we cut the amount of gifts we give way down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1935001 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 14:58:15 +0000 BandDmommy 1935001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Normally we go crazy and spend way too much. Trying to be more reasonable this year. We do secret Santa with our extended family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1934989 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 14:55:03 +0000 Bao 1934989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: This is how I'm hoping it can go for us! I want to be able to enjoy it, instead of dread it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1934922 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 14:32:35 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1934922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Every year starting in November we decide how much we will need for the following year, divide by 12, and save that much each month. That way we have our budgeted money set aside by October for shopping. The first year was tough because we didn't have the money already, so we had to go light on gifts, but its really great now not to blink an eye at christmas spending. We enjoy the season so much more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1934878 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 14:14:59 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 1934878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a category in our budget called Christmas. It gets divided between DH and I and we buy our family's gifts and gifts for each other. We have so many categories in our budget that it's not hard to keep it there until the holidays. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-save-for-christmas-gifts#post-1934873 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 14:13:24 +0000 Bao 1934873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: Yes! We started doing a secret santa exchange with my side of the family (for the adults) so each of us just have to buy a $25 gift for another person, it saves us a ton of money! </p>