Happy Easter

Christmas All Year Long – An Update So Far

Less than nine months until Christmas!  I know I’m a sick person. 

I work on Christmas all year long so I am prepared for the season with as little financial and emotional stress as possible.  After many years of feeling stressed out, overburdened, under budgeted and dreading the holiday altogether, I decided I needed to take a much different approach to the holidays.  After all, it just isn’t worth driving yourself crazy over. 

So far, this is what I have accomplished: 

• I compiled a modest and affordable gift list for all the people I wish to give to this next Christmas.
• I made a list of stocking stuffers so I can start accumulating those items as I find them on sale.  So far I have acquired free toothpaste and toothbrushes I purchased on sale with coupons which made my total $0.
• I already started working on my handmade items so I have plenty of time to complete my projects.
• I have completed 4 hand knitted hats so far.  All made from leftover yarn scraps or yarn that was given to me.
• I made 20 Christmas cards.
• I made 30 self adhesive gift tags.
• I sorted and organized my gift wrap bin.  I purchased 2 rolls of wrap on clearance at 50¢ a roll and two packages of tissue paper for $1.50 after Christmas last year.  I also saved gift bags, gift boxes, tissue and bows to re-use.
• I have updated my Christmas card list.
• After using coupons to purchase sale items at Bath and Body Works I have three nice gift sets put together.
• I have made a list of homemade treats I plan to make and give at the holidays.
• I started a preliminary budget plan.
• I am planning to re-use our existing holiday decorations so I do not plan to purchase any additional items this year.

I used to plan for Christmas and start working on it in July but I found that the summer activities would tend to sideline my efforts.  I wouldn’t get back on track until the kids were back in school.  By then I was feeling the pressure to get busy and I ended up feeling stressed out and unprepared. 

Now that I work on it a little bit at a time throughout the year I find I can get far more things done and I don’t feel pressured or overburdened.  I also feel like I give nicer gifts and spend less money doing so.  I love to make my gifts and fortunately I have just enough talent to make some nice things that people seem to enjoy receiving. 

The best part is that I really get to enjoy the holidays.  How do you tackle your Christmas planning?

Grocery Budget Update - March

Our grocery budget was soooo much better this month.  For starters I stayed on budget.  I am really happy with my purchases.  We had everything we needed and then some.  It just doesn’t get any better than that! 

My non-food budget came in at $25.36 for two bags of cat food and two of litter.  I bartered with my mother for a case of toilet paper from Costco. 

The items in blue are my pantry stock up items.  This is what I bought this month: 

Groceries		$$$
Orange juice - 1/2 gal (2)		2.00	Store Coupon
Milk - 1/2 gal (2)		1.50	Store Coupon/Coupon
Milk - 1 gal		1.25	Markdown/Coupon
Bagels (2)		3.00	Store Coupon
Bread (2)		3.00	Store Coupon
Cheese -8 oz (3)		3.75	Store Coupon/Coupon
Broccoli		0.66
Cauliflower		1.79
Celery		1.99
Carrots (2)		2.50
Lettuce		1.76
Grape tomatoes		2.00
Pepsi - 2 liter		FREE	Coupon
Cream cheese (3)		3.00
Potato chips		1.79
Less Bag Refund		(0.15)
Tortilla chips		1.50
Raisin bran (2)		2.96
Cereal (2)		2.96
Powdered sugar - 2#		1.38
Green bell pepper (2)		0.96
Red bell pepper (2)		1.56
Grapes		4.53
Mushrooms		1.22
Blueberries		2.48
Pineapple chunks (2)		0.61	Coupon
Pineapple slices (2)		0.61	Coupon
Green beans (4)		1.32
Corn (2)		0.66
Rotini (2)		1.98
Tomato sauce (2)		0.96
Tomatoes (4)		2.32
Coconut milk		2.02
WW flour - 5#		3.22
Tortillas (2)		4.64
Popcorn		1.88
Black beans - 2#		2.02
Vegetable juice (2)		3.08
Jalapenos		1.68
Green chiles (2)		1.16
Soy sauce		0.83	Coupon
Soup		0.86
Honey		3.18
Black olives (2)		1.98
Peanut butter		2.98
Parmesan		.98
Tuna (4)		2.00
Oranges		2.44
Avocados (2)		1.56
Taco mix		1.32
Apples		1.71
Spinach		1.68
Salad dressing (2)		3.76	Coupon
Grapes		4.53
Lemon lime soda		2.50
Carrots		1.29
Orange juice - 1/2 gal (3)		3.00
Grape tomatoes		1.50
Bread (2)		3.00
Bagels (2)		3.00
Lettuce (2)		1.68
Total		$ 124.33

 How did you do with your grocery budget this month?