anyone have the "I spent too much " blues

[Deleted]

OH mY goD. I just checked my spreadsheet and tallied how much I spent. its gross. I am disgusted with how much I spent.

Next year I am simplifying. my sister had a great idea. She gifted experiences and time for the kids.  She's taking DS 1 to a BU / BC hockey game and dinner etc.. DD to Disney on ice and DS2 to build a bear.

My brother followed suit and set up a day that he and his gf are bringing all the kids bowling. (well not Leo, he's too little)

I should do this next year.

[Deleted]

Yes. We spent around $3k and I feel like I simplified this year. It will take us a couple of months to catch up.

[ralphlauren]

No. I spent a ton but it is once a year so I don't let it bother me.

[blondemoment123]

I spent about what I planned. What's getting me in trouble is the sales today. $10 wreaths ftw!

[Deleted]

Dec 26, 2014 16:51:07 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

I've never experienced this emotion.

It is what us commoners call "budgeting".

[jinkies]

Dec 26, 2014 16:51:50 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

I never add it all up bc I do not want to know.

Yeah, I started with a spreadsheet tracking what I bought/what I needed/ ideas for various people. 

Once I hit my target budget, I just.... stopped tracking. I did not stop buying. I'm sure I don't want to know the actual total. 

[hulley]

This year I decided to just not count. I told DH to pay the credit card bill and start over In January. Fortunately, we only have DD and the ILs to buy for, so it shouldn't have been too bad, but I definitely blew our $500 budget.
Every December, I say next year will be the year I buy throughout the year to lessen the hit. Every year, it's suddenly October and I haven't bought a thing.

[eddy]

We did really well with the kids. Even knowing that we stuck with the budget it is tough to pay the credit card bill in January.

[Deleted]

Dec 26, 2014 16:52:31 GMT -5 @lazerus24 said:

Dec 26, 2014 16:51:07 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

I've never experienced this emotion.

It is what us commoners call "budgeting".

LOL I Know right!!!

[Deleted]

I don't have a ton to buy for... but DH and I both bought new cars this summer and I am no longer working my second job making mad bank so ummmm ya.. I felt it. Plus we don't use credit cards its all cash so I looked at my bank account and went WHAT?

[wowhead]

A little but not for what I spent on gifts. I lost my mind last night and ordered 48 skeins of yarn.

[Deleted]

We really only had to buy for the girls, but I went kind of crazy this year because it was going to be the first Christmas I felt like they'd both get it. I wanted them to come down the stairs in our new house and be so excited.

[psychmom]

I don't know the total and I don't want to. I'm still sad about it though

[moolarkey]

We were right on what I budgeted. This year I spent $400 each on our kids and their spouses, $400 on H and $200 on our grandson. Next year we'll add a 2nd grandchild to the mix. I may cut back to $300 per adult and $150 for each grandchild just because I think $400 is a lot.

[karmasabiotch]

Me and I can't stop. Help me!

[Deleted]

I went a little overboard, but everyone is happy. I will not tally what I spent though.

[isabel]

Yes, my credit card is making me sad.

On the plus side, I decided last month that I need to start setting aside money for gifts each month, so I already have $120 saved toward Christmas gifts for next year. I'm thinking next Christmas will feel a lot better since I'll have actually budgeted for it.

[georgeharrison]

My H splurged on me and that's the only thing I really feel guilty about. BUT, I really love everything that he gave me so I can't return them, so I'm just going to have to live with that guilt. The money that I spent on him and we spent on everyone else, I don't feel the least bit bad about. It was a lot, but we were super blessed this year, so it's nice to share that a little bit.

[05heel]

I don't buy gifts for anyone but my kid, and I actually feel a little guilty about it this year. Not guilty enough to change my ways though.

[Deleted]

I don't feel guilty about the money spent, I feel guilty about the amount of STUFF I got for them, if that makes sense. We definitely had to go out today and buy another cube shelf thing.

Eta: I'm talking about the amount of stuff I got for my kids. I'm tired.

[Deleted]

Yup...I'm waiting for pay day next week to actually look at my checking account.  Because then I won't notice a problem anymore!  

[jlt19]

I was good until we had to buy DH'S truck new tires.

[kayakjenn]

We don't do gifts but I need to figure out how to cut back on the grocery bill for Christmas day. When you figure in alcohol and things for cookies I didn't even end up making, I spent $400. And I didn't even have to pay for the roast!

Next year I do hope to budget for Christmas gifts for DH and me, it's a little weird to not do anything for each other.

[Deleted]

Ya I hosted dinner so I spent an additional 200 on the ham the sides and booze. My parents showed up with a store bought cheesecake with a7.99 price tag on it.
I sound ungrateful. But between what they do fro people who are NOT family and the thought they put into it its maddening to get a generic ugly sweater that I would never or will never wear.

There are a ton of backstory and family dynamic that I won't get into so if I sound like a whiny little bitch I sorta am but I also sorta have a reason

[picaflora]

We really didn't do bad this year, but we made it a point to spend less since my job situation was unknown through most of the shopping season. Everyone also seemed pleased. I think we spent about half if what we normally do and I'd like to make it the new normal.

[IrishBelle]

I haven't added it up but I think we were on budget this year. I resisted the urge to go out and pick up that one more thing which never ends with just one thing.

[hisno1girl]

I didn't actually total up what we spent but the sheer number of gifts alone was extreme and over the top.

I was really disgusted by how excessive we were this year because we spent an obscene amount of money.

It am absolutely cutting back next year and trying to stick to our original budget. This year we probably spent 3-4 times more than last year.

[shell403b]

I went WAY overboard this year. So much so that I just left one of E's presents in the garage (it's a Thomas the Train table). H was sick, so we didn't end up opening presents until 1230, but I gave E a couple of his stocking stuffers while we were hanging out yesterday morning. The joy he had for those few things--they were small trucks--made me realize I didn't have to go so crazy. Lesson learned, I suppose. We'll save the table for his birthday in April.

[jenna]

I was doing great except for that  $1k+ emergency vet bill, and $300+ dental crown... on top of paying property taxes on the car and house... and Christmas... and 2 birthdays in Dec.

:sigh:

easy come, easy go

[agnes]

Because of this thread, I just added up my "gifts" category and we stayed close to budget. Just over $500. But that doesn't include the credit card cash back rewards I used towards gifts. Those gifts are like they never even happened!