Comments on: Holiday Gift Fund: It’s Never too Early to Start http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/2008/07/holiday-gift-fund-its-never-too-early/ Live Well for Less Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:17:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Beth http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/2008/07/holiday-gift-fund-its-never-too-early/#comment-2913 Beth Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:44:00 +0000 http://commonsensewithmoney.com/?p=390#comment-2913 Every year my goal is to have 90% of my shopping done my Sept. All year long I am on the look out for a good deal. I even go so far as to buy items, that I have no idea who I will give them to. Because the item is nice and on sale. Every year my goal is to have 90% of my shopping done my Sept. All year long I am on the look out for a good deal. I even go so far as to buy items, that I have no idea who I will give them to. Because the item is nice and on sale.

]]> By: kim http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/2008/07/holiday-gift-fund-its-never-too-early/#comment-2912 kim Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:36:00 +0000 http://commonsensewithmoney.com/?p=390#comment-2912 I was at my local Target and they were clearancing tons of toys 30-50% off. I got a few goodies for xmas but i stocked up on bday presents for my sons(7 yrs and 6 yrs) friends bday parties. I got quite a few things for my daughters second bday as well. I was bummed i couldnt use the target coupon but I did great even without it I was at my local Target and they were clearancing tons of toys 30-50% off. I got a few goodies for xmas but i stocked up on bday presents for my sons(7 yrs and 6 yrs) friends bday parties. I got quite a few things for my daughters second bday as well. I was bummed i couldnt use the target coupon but I did great even without it

]]> By: Marcy http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/2008/07/holiday-gift-fund-its-never-too-early/#comment-2911 Marcy Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:04:00 +0000 http://commonsensewithmoney.com/?p=390#comment-2911 I have a spreadsheet for our Christmas budget that I review and update every year. It helps me keep track of how much I am spending, who I have gifts for, who I still need gifts for etc... We are fortunate that DH gets his annual bonus in November, and that we know what the amount will be in June. We always set aside a portion of it to buy Christmas gifts. If for some reason his bonus goes away or is a lot less, at least we'll know about it 6 months before Christmas and can plan accordingly. Great post. I just started thinking about Christmas gifts this week. I have a spreadsheet for our Christmas budget that I review and update every year. It helps me keep track of how much I am spending, who I have gifts for, who I still need gifts for etc… We are fortunate that DH gets his annual bonus in November, and that we know what the amount will be in June. We always set aside a portion of it to buy Christmas gifts. If for some reason his bonus goes away or is a lot less, at least we’ll know about it 6 months before Christmas and can plan accordingly. Great post. I just started thinking about Christmas gifts this week.

]]> By: Mercedes http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/2008/07/holiday-gift-fund-its-never-too-early/#comment-2910 Mercedes Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:20:00 +0000 http://commonsensewithmoney.com/?p=390#comment-2910 Hi Kim, Last year I was able to get some gifts for my sons babysitters with a sale target had. I am hoping for something similar this year. or I was thinking of putting together a "spa" bag with HBA items I have gotten for free at either Walgreens or CVS. I also have some of those free eob bags, lol!<br/><br/>Jackie,<br/>I hear towards the end of the summer is a great time for toy clearances. I am looking forward to those. I have more than 10 kids to buy for.<br/><br/>Frugal Dad, thank you for stopping by. I just wanted to suggest that if you find something on sale and buy it, you "pay yourself back" with the money you have in your savings account. That's probably what I will do. I know that if I put money from this fund into the checking account, soon it will get used for another purpose. Hi Kim, Last year I was able to get some gifts for my sons babysitters with a sale target had. I am hoping for something similar this year. or I was thinking of putting together a “spa” bag with HBA items I have gotten for free at either Walgreens or CVS. I also have some of those free eob bags, lol!

Jackie,
I hear towards the end of the summer is a great time for toy clearances. I am looking forward to those. I have more than 10 kids to buy for.

Frugal Dad, thank you for stopping by. I just wanted to suggest that if you find something on sale and buy it, you “pay yourself back” with the money you have in your savings account. That’s probably what I will do. I know that if I put money from this fund into the checking account, soon it will get used for another purpose.

]]> By: Frugal Dad http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/2008/07/holiday-gift-fund-its-never-too-early/#comment-2909 Frugal Dad Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:21:00 +0000 http://commonsensewithmoney.com/?p=390#comment-2909 Thanks for the mention! I think saving up throughout the year is a great plan, and something we are on schedule to pull off this year. Your point about purchasing sale items starting a few months out made me think of a flaw in our plan. All the money is currently locked away in a savings account. Perhaps we can move a little into checking and hang on to the receipts to make sure we don't spend more than we've withdrawn. Great idea! Thanks for the mention! I think saving up throughout the year is a great plan, and something we are on schedule to pull off this year. Your point about purchasing sale items starting a few months out made me think of a flaw in our plan. All the money is currently locked away in a savings account. Perhaps we can move a little into checking and hang on to the receipts to make sure we don’t spend more than we’ve withdrawn. Great idea!

]]> By: Jackie http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/2008/07/holiday-gift-fund-its-never-too-early/#comment-2908 Jackie Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:50:00 +0000 http://commonsensewithmoney.com/?p=390#comment-2908 I love this reminder! I was just thinking this same thing the other day, and then it quickly slipped out of my mind. I am going to start a little savings fund now of $20-30 each week. That should help alot! In addition to watching for the sales at grocery stores... I'm going to start watching the sales at toy stores! I love this reminder! I was just thinking this same thing the other day, and then it quickly slipped out of my mind. I am going to start a little savings fund now of $20-30 each week. That should help alot! In addition to watching for the sales at grocery stores… I’m going to start watching the sales at toy stores!

]]> By: kim http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/2008/07/holiday-gift-fund-its-never-too-early/#comment-2907 kim Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:33:00 +0000 http://commonsensewithmoney.com/?p=390#comment-2907 x-mas shopping/saving starts a few days after new years for me. I shop all year round for deals and bargains. For example in january 08 I bought (14) x-mas tealight tart candle holders origionally $15 but I paid $1 each. I will make a gift bag add tea lights 2 cinn tarts or pine tarts(also bought on clearance) and to top it off i got 15 free gift bags from cvs a few months ago. For under $2.50 each I will have created teachers gifts, auntie gifts, a few neighbor gifts and I always have a few just in case gifts. I have three kids and I try to get a few of their gifts early to but my main focus at x-mas time is my kids, I try to have everyone else done by november. x-mas shopping/saving starts a few days after new years for me. I shop all year round for deals and bargains. For example in january 08 I bought (14) x-mas tealight tart candle holders origionally $15 but I paid $1 each. I will make a gift bag add tea lights 2 cinn tarts or pine tarts(also bought on clearance) and to top it off i got 15 free gift bags from cvs a few months ago. For under $2.50 each I will have created teachers gifts, auntie gifts, a few neighbor gifts and I always have a few just in case gifts. I have three kids and I try to get a few of their gifts early to but my main focus at x-mas time is my kids, I try to have everyone else done by november.

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