Beware the Baubles | brokeGIRLrich
I’m generally pretty good at keeping my Christmas costs to a reasonable amount. I buy for less than 10 people and 4 of them usually just get some small “thinking of you” token.
But at the end of every holiday season, there’s always been a small amount of money that I just couldn’t really figure out where it was going. It’s always been less than $50, but still, as I try to be more conscious of my spending, I put more effort into trying to figure out where that money was going…
…and I’m pretty sure I found my answer.
I love plopping a little gift on top my planned gift, because I like to imagine myself the Martha Stewart of gift wrapping. Even though I’m not. At all. But something about tying a chocolate bar, holiday lip balm or an ornament onto the wrapping paper of the main gift makes it seem even more in the holiday spirit to me.
Which is totally fine – and, let’s be real, gifts wrapped like that are always among the first grabbed in at a white elephant party, so, I’m right, they are pretty cool. ;o)
However, I don’t think about these purchases, they’re just mindless spending. They don’t get budgeted into my holiday spending. When I check out my credit card statement, they’re always charges that make me go “what did I even buy there?”
There’s just something about the holiday spirit/rampant consumerism that happens this month that makes money disappear.
Ohhh I can relate! For me it’s all the little holiday decorations and trinkets!
Heather @ Simply Save recently posted…Charitable Giving During The Holidays
I’m totally guilty of this. We gave my sister-in-law and her family tickets to see movies, but then I kept thinking about how the gift seemed so small, so I wanted to include movie size candies and all this other stuff. It would have been fun, but we also have to ship the gift. I finally just mailed them their gift and included extra cookies in Rob’s parents gift and asked them to share.
Baubles really add up if you have to ship them.
Oh gosh, yes. Shipping is totally a killer.
Happens with us too. Stuff for the kids stocking, little impulse stuff really adds up. I have notices more and more checking out line at stores long and winedy with tons of little crap just stock to the ceiling saying buy me, buy me.
Brian @DebtDiscipline recently posted…Trim the Fat from your Budget
Yeah, retailers are brilliant at knowing how to maximize what we’ll buy.
Yeah, I spend the last 5ish days of the holiday season reminding myself that I got everyone plenty of things. They don’t need more. I’d spent plenty.
I went right up to the limit for my husband, so that’s safe. But spending came in under budget on the in-laws, so I foresee another struggle this year. Stay strong! Or send me the chocolate bar. Ya know, whatever.
Abigail @ipickuppennies recently posted…Mission accomplished! …ish
Sometimes I think I could use a little more Christmas cheer and love of cute stuff, so no, I’m afraid I can’t relate.
RAnn recently posted…We Fired the Investment Advisor
My downfall in years past was adding a card to each gift. I was spending about $4 apiece to get really funny, clever, individualized cards. That may have been okay when I was only buying for 5 other people, but my list had gotten big enough that the total last year had to have been around $60.
I made sure I was tracking the cost of every present this year, even cards and nonstaple baking ingredients (pecans and coconut yes; flour and sugar no because I always have those on hand). That really helped cut back on the impulse gifts. I got to the point I was done before last weekend, and it’s kept me from wanting to add last minute little items.
Emily @ JohnJaneDoe recently posted…Little Bit and her Giveaway Jar: Teaching a 5 Year Old to Give
I think it’s helpful to get done ahead of time and then just cut yourself off. I know I did worst the damage adding to other gifts when I was still out buying for other people.
Yes, I do this too. It’s so easy to get carried away with a little top up gift to make a present even more special!
Hayley @ Disease Called Debt recently posted…Financially Savvy Saturdays #121
It’s like magic, money disappearing, wrapping is something I always forget to factor into my budget, I realized it this year, when I found myself without wrapping paper, couldn’t find my ribbon, and overall just skipped the bows. Needless to say my presents aren’t wrapped very nice this year.
Liz recently posted…Rock Your Finances in 2016 Free E-Mail Course
Haha, you know what? I don’t think I budget for wrapping paper, tape, etc. either!
I suppose another way to look at this would be to think if it brings you joy as a craft or a hobby. If you’re adding a bauble out of obligation (or mindless consumerism), then it is wasteful. However, if little touches like this make you happy, then I would think of it more of a pastime or a craft project. And now I want a photo 🙂
Penny @ She Picks Up Pennies recently posted…Flashback Friday: The F Word
I’ve managed not to do it so far this year! But I do agree – if you’re super crafty and get a kick out of making ornaments, definitely go for topping off a gift with one. The older I get, the more I love handmade things. It’s nice to have a memory attached to the ornaments as you hang them on the tree.
Mel @ brokeGIRLrich recently posted…Financially Savvy Saturdays #121