With the calendar inching ever closer to November, the holidays, too, are inching ever closer. Does it fill you with dread, too, or just me?
I'll just come right out and say it: I am a miserable failure when it comes to being frugal at the holidays, Christmas particularly. Each year, we sit down and set out a budget of how much we want to spend for each person or family, then we proceed to blow it, despite my efforts to keep us reined in.
I grew up in a household where there was not much under the Christmas tree most years. And, you know what? I have absolutely wonderful, fond memories. Never once did I think that we didn't have enough. My husband, on the other hand, grew up in a household where his parents scrimped and saved throughout the year (have you ever heard of someone not having garbage service because it cost too much?), then went bonkers with Christmas. He, too, has fond memories of Christmas. We've tried to strike a happy medium, but always end up with me feeling like we've spent too much. I then spend most of January being very grumpy about the Christmas bills.
We set some money aside each month for Christmas spending (though we tend to dip into that envelope throughout the year, so there is never quite as much in there as there should be), and of course I shop sales and look for deals, but still. I always find myself wishing we had done better come December 26.
So, Frugal Readers, I turn to you for inspiration. How do you save $$ during the holidays without feeling like a 21st-century version of Ebeneezer Scrooge? Do tell!
