Comments on: The Day After: Six Ways to Deal With the Post-Christmas Money Blues – And Plan Ahead for Next Year http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:50:58 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ben http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-146694 Ben Tue, 01 Jan 2008 22:31:32 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-146694 The christmas just passed was the first one to not have a debt residue via credit card. At the family christmas get togther the children received presents while any presents for the adults were very modest. I quit drinking soft drink this year and the coins that I put in money tins instead in soft drink vedning machines covered christmas food and drink and new year's eve celebrations. In Australia there is an absolute frenzy over the boxing day sales. I took advantage of the sales by layby-ing a year's worth of yeans at 50% off and getting a pair of $100.00 joggers for $31.00. For those that overindulged on the Credit Cards there will be some unhappiness when the Reserve Bank raises interest rates in Febuary or March this year. I'm back at work today with leftovers for lunch and fruit brought from home for my morning and afternoon snacks, and I'm loving it. The christmas just passed was the first one to not have a debt residue via credit card. At the family christmas get togther the children received presents while any presents for the adults were very modest.

I quit drinking soft drink this year and the coins that I put in money tins instead in soft drink vedning machines covered christmas food and drink and new year’s eve celebrations.

In Australia there is an absolute frenzy over the boxing day sales. I took advantage of the sales by layby-ing a year’s worth of yeans at 50% off and getting a pair of $100.00 joggers for $31.00. For those that overindulged on the Credit Cards there will be some unhappiness when the Reserve Bank raises interest rates in Febuary or March this year.

I’m back at work today with leftovers for lunch and fruit brought from home for my morning and afternoon snacks, and I’m loving it.

]]> By: Viv http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-145506 Viv Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:07:29 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-145506 Wow! I love your column but I can see from the list of gifts you received why you are still working hard on being frugal. That is a lot of stuff! Seems like you have a long way to go... Wow! I love your column but I can see from the list of gifts you received why you are still working hard on being frugal. That is a lot of stuff! Seems like you have a long way to go…

]]> By: feefifoto http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-142850 feefifoto Fri, 28 Dec 2007 02:21:21 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-142850 I appreciate everything I read on your blog; it makes a lot of plain sense to me, and should to everyone else also. Just linked to you from mine: http://blog.feefifoto.com/2008/01/holiday-season.html. I appreciate everything I read on your blog; it makes a lot of plain sense to me, and should to everyone else also. Just linked to you from mine:
http://blog.feefifoto.com/2008/01/holiday-season.html.

]]> By: Liz http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-142702 Liz Thu, 27 Dec 2007 21:38:51 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-142702 After all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, going here and going there, SHOPPING AND SPENDING MONEY, the LAST thing I want to do is go BACK out to the stores to spend MORE money, deals or no deals!!! ENOUGH to the spending and bringing MORE stuff (most of it not needed!) into my home. So there :) :) After all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, going here and going there, SHOPPING AND SPENDING MONEY, the LAST thing I want to do is go BACK out to the stores to spend MORE money, deals or no deals!!! ENOUGH to the spending and bringing MORE stuff (most of it not needed!) into my home. So there :) :)

]]> By: Tracy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-142668 Tracy Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:49:16 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-142668 My fiance and I are trying to pay off mounds of credit card debt that we accrued so long ago we can't remember what it was spent on. We convinced both of our families to do gift exchanges with a maximum gift value of $30. This meant we only bought 4 gifts this year and we kept our Christmas spending to under $200. We took the money our relatives gave us and bought ourselves a new vacuum which we needed. We didn't exchange gifts between each other because we're saving up for our wedding/honeymoon in 2008. This is the second year we've done a gift exchange with our families and it works really well. The best Christmas will be in two years from now when we've finally paid off ALL of our credit card bills!!! My fiance and I are trying to pay off mounds of credit card debt that we accrued so long ago we can’t remember what it was spent on.

We convinced both of our families to do gift exchanges with a maximum gift value of $30. This meant we only bought 4 gifts this year and we kept our Christmas spending to under $200. We took the money our relatives gave us and bought ourselves a new vacuum which we needed. We didn’t exchange gifts between each other because we’re saving up for our wedding/honeymoon in 2008.

This is the second year we’ve done a gift exchange with our families and it works really well.

The best Christmas will be in two years from now when we’ve finally paid off ALL of our credit card bills!!!

]]> By: luvleftovers http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-142562 luvleftovers Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:05:25 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-142562 My family kept it simple this year. The adults are practicle and we buy mostly clothes and movies for the teenagers. Most of my purchases are already paid for and the few that are left will be paid for by Monday. I basically paid as I went, putting whatever I put on the CC within 48 hours of the purchase. It worked quite well and I didn't have to carry a lot of cash. I love on-line banking! My family kept it simple this year. The adults are practicle and we buy mostly clothes and movies for the teenagers. Most of my purchases are already paid for and the few that are left will be paid for by Monday. I basically paid as I went, putting whatever I put on the CC within 48 hours of the purchase. It worked quite well and I didn’t have to carry a lot of cash. I love on-line banking!

]]> By: elizabeth http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-142502 elizabeth Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:08:45 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-142502 I went out yesterday and picked up bath baskets for graduation gifts, picked up mother's day presents, a bridal shower gift, and three birthday gifts for the coming year. A lot of the Target and Walmart items don't say Christmas anywhere on them, but at 50% off because they have a "Christmas" tag on them. While not everything is a great deal and you have to sort through it you can still find great deals. I went out yesterday and picked up bath baskets for graduation gifts, picked up mother’s day presents, a bridal shower gift, and three birthday gifts for the coming year. A lot of the Target and Walmart items don’t say Christmas anywhere on them, but at 50% off because they have a “Christmas” tag on them. While not everything is a great deal and you have to sort through it you can still find great deals.

]]> By: Jackie http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-142442 Jackie Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:21:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-142442 This year I made a lot of my gifts and that went over really well. I decided that this year I would do the envelope system but for Christmas. So now most people have an envelope and over the year I will put in extra ones when I have them. This year I made a lot of my gifts and that went over really well. I decided that this year I would do the envelope system but for Christmas. So now most people have an envelope and over the year I will put in extra ones when I have them.

]]> By: victoriana http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-142239 victoriana Thu, 27 Dec 2007 06:23:47 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-142239 Thanks for the tips, Trent. I've just returned home from a hectic boxing day shopping experience. But I totally loved it. I was shopping "with sense". I've been frugal this year and it was exciting to buy stuff from my favorite stores, most of which normally cost hundreds. Today, I was looking at 30%-60% off and it was fun. Yes, I like high end stuff but life is about choices and preferences. After a long exhausting day, I told myself I'll turn this into an annual experience. So, I'm starting to save up for the next boxing day shopping magic! Yes, that has been one of the decisions I made today. That would even make it more fun! Thanks for your posts. Thanks for the tips, Trent. I’ve just returned home from a hectic boxing day shopping experience. But I totally loved it. I was shopping “with sense”. I’ve been frugal this year and it was exciting to buy stuff from my favorite stores, most of which normally cost hundreds. Today, I was looking at 30%-60% off and it was fun. Yes, I like high end stuff but life is about choices and preferences.

After a long exhausting day, I told myself I’ll turn this into an annual experience. So, I’m starting to save up for the next boxing day shopping magic! Yes, that has been one of the decisions I made today. That would even make it more fun! Thanks for your posts.

]]> By: Mary McK. http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-142178 Mary McK. Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:59:13 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-142178 We managed to keep our spending way down this year, but I would rather try your method of saving $20 a week and not have to worry about it so much next year. One thing we have done that I really love: we have bought pretty Christmas fabric at after-Christmas sales and made drawstring gift bags. After a few years of making bags, we are now wrapping-paper free and the tree always looks so festive. I'm not much of a sewer but I can manage these bags - no pattern necessary. If we have a really awkward sized gift we can make a new bag for it. So - no need to go out and buy paper and other wrapping supplies any more, no stressful last-minute rush to wrap, and kids can "wrap" gifts with no help. My husband's family actually started this trend so they send us gifts in bags they have made, and vice versa, so we just keep them circulating! We managed to keep our spending way down this year, but I would rather try your method of saving $20 a week and not have to worry about it so much next year.

One thing we have done that I really love: we have bought pretty Christmas fabric at after-Christmas sales and made drawstring gift bags. After a few years of making bags, we are now wrapping-paper free and the tree always looks so festive. I’m not much of a sewer but I can manage these bags – no pattern necessary. If we have a really awkward sized gift we can make a new bag for it. So – no need to go out and buy paper and other wrapping supplies any more, no stressful last-minute rush to wrap, and kids can “wrap” gifts with no help. My husband’s family actually started this trend so they send us gifts in bags they have made, and vice versa, so we just keep them circulating!

]]> By: mamacita http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-142053 mamacita Wed, 26 Dec 2007 23:33:42 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-142053 I had no luck at all with after-Christmas sales. You'll have to tell me how you fare. I had no luck at all with after-Christmas sales. You’ll have to tell me how you fare.

]]> By: sp http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-142048 sp Wed, 26 Dec 2007 23:14:32 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-142048 I simplified the holidays and holiday shopping by just saying "no" to Christmas. So I no longer buy wrapping supplies or decorations, and I do not exchange gifts with friends -- we simply treat each other to dinner or movies on occasion. Saves us all lots of shopping! Our mothers like to exchange gifts, and so I look for things throughout the year. I try to give my mother something that will not take up space in her small apartment: one year it was a tickets to a James Taylor concert; and this year, we installed a programmable thermostat, a new furnace filter, and compact fluorescent bulbs for my mother -- all of which will help her save money throughout the year but will not take up any extra space. His mother is getting a three-year subscription to her favorite magazine. I keep extra funds in my checking account for treating friends and the mothers. I use a rewards card for all my purchases, and I transfer the money from my checking account. I simplified the holidays and holiday shopping by just saying “no” to Christmas. So I no longer buy wrapping supplies or decorations, and I do not exchange gifts with friends — we simply treat each other to dinner or movies on occasion. Saves us all lots of shopping!

Our mothers like to exchange gifts, and so I look for things throughout the year. I try to give my mother something that will not take up space in her small apartment: one year it was a tickets to a James Taylor concert; and this year, we installed a programmable thermostat, a new furnace filter, and compact fluorescent bulbs for my mother — all of which will help her save money throughout the year but will not take up any extra space. His mother is getting a three-year subscription to her favorite magazine.

I keep extra funds in my checking account for treating friends and the mothers. I use a rewards card for all my purchases, and I transfer the money from my checking account.

]]> By: Little Miss Moneybags http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-142019 Little Miss Moneybags Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:29:49 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-142019 I've taken one point of your advice before you even gave it! Right after I bought almost everyone's gift this year, I came up with a dozen more ideas for them. So I'm making a list and will keep an eye out for deals during the year. Maybe I'll even have all my shopping done before Thanksgiving this way! At the very least, I won't be panicked at the last minute. I’ve taken one point of your advice before you even gave it! Right after I bought almost everyone’s gift this year, I came up with a dozen more ideas for them. So I’m making a list and will keep an eye out for deals during the year. Maybe I’ll even have all my shopping done before Thanksgiving this way! At the very least, I won’t be panicked at the last minute.

]]> By: Johanna http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-141976 Johanna Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:53:45 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-141976 Here's one where I admit I could have done better this year: Spend plenty of time talking (and listening) to the people you're shopping for. As you pointed out, a modest gift that's perfect for the recipient can bring more joy than an expensive gift that isn't, but the less you know about what the person's up to these days, the harder it is to know what the perfect gift would be. Here’s one where I admit I could have done better this year: Spend plenty of time talking (and listening) to the people you’re shopping for. As you pointed out, a modest gift that’s perfect for the recipient can bring more joy than an expensive gift that isn’t, but the less you know about what the person’s up to these days, the harder it is to know what the perfect gift would be.

]]> By: Writer's Coin http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-141974 Writer's Coin Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:45:25 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/26/the-day-after-six-ways-to-deal-with-the-post-christmas-money-blues-and-plan-ahead-for-next-year/#comment-141974 One thing that worked for me was to buy all presents on Black Friday—this way I'm done on time and I got some really good deals. The budget, on the other hand... well, I failed that part. One thing that worked for me was to buy all presents on Black Friday—this way I’m done on time and I got some really good deals.

The budget, on the other hand… well, I failed that part.

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