Holiday Blitz

Posted on December 19, 2004 3 Comments

The past week has been an absolute blur for me – I’ve been everywhere from Michigan Avenue to Oakbrook Center, online and in-stores. I managed to do OK this year, only going over my estimated budget on two people. I still have to go back and analyze my receipts to determine how much I spent this holiday season, which reminds me of some tips for keeping your holiday blitz from breaking the bank:

• Before going to the store, make a list consisting of each person you want to buy for and how much you’re willing to spend. Be honest about how much you can spend – you won’t appreciate the gift-giving process as much if you’re anxious about your credit card bill. These price limits can also come in handy to curb impulse buys in case you can’t find the item you want to buy.
• Don’t feel bad if you can’t spend as much as you like on someone – remember it’s the thought that counts. I don’t know many people who get upset because their Christmas presents are too cheap. Your family and closest friends understand your financial situation; I bet they’re happier to spend time with you then get your gift. Admittedly, we all know people completely obsessed with price tags and labels. Don’t try to appease them with a gift you can’t afford. They have larger issues to deal with than your underpriced gift!
• Any true budgeting babe will look for sales before heading out.
• While shopping, bring a slightly impatient person with you to the mall (a guy, perhaps?). I’m totally serious here. The goal is to get in and get out, or else end up buying a bunch of stuff you’re not there for. The less you look at, the more focused you can be.
• Come up with a strategy for staying on budget. My strategy is to ask for gift cards for Christmas from friends and family. That way, I can shop! shop! shop! all the great sales right after Christmas on someone else’s dime, releasing all that pent-up purchasing energy.
• After finishing shopping, take stock of the damage. I make a spreadsheet of total dollars spent and keep all my receipts in a separate, labeled envelope. This provides an easily accessible record to compare with credit card and bank statements. Always double check statements with care – account numbers are flying this time of the year and there’s no shortage of shady people trying to access them.

Then, sit back and enjoy the season! We’ve all earned it.

On a side note, I’m happy to say I did not buy anything extra for myself this season while shopping for others, and I think this site had something to do with it. I don’t know if anybody even reads my blog, but it holds me accountable. I would hate to write about how much I overspent this season for all to read.

Things I didn’t buy update:
1) Beautful holiday sweaters from Express (www.expressfashion.com)

2) Nordstrom shoes (http://store.nordstrom.com/category/default_shoes.asp?category=2376778&origin=tab)

3) Calvin Klein sheets

4) Books: Devil in the White City and The Rule of Four (www.amazon.com)

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