Do you cut back on bills to celebrate Christmas ?

[mammaduke]

:busy:Is Christmas cutting into the money you have to pay bills ? I know here we try to juggle everything to make sure everyone gets something for Christmas. I have to budget shop to get everything yet still pay bills. I was wondering if that's the way with others here ? Not asking if your rich or poor ,but I can say ;I'm rich with the Lord, yet middle class with the goverment.
I was just wondering if anyone is like this here?

[mammaduke]

Wanted to make sure this got on

[kerst]

In our family we don't exchange presents except for a few small ones because there are 30 of us and it's just too much. So the presents bit doesn't bute into my budget. Christmas lunch is paid for by my parents (they are 80 now but still going strong) but I do spend a lot of money on decorations, visiting christmas fairs, going to a concert or something and I will host a drinks party for my neighbours which will cost too. But I do try to stick to a budget and I make sure I provide enough money for bills in the months before christmas so I don't run into problems. Christmas doens't have to cost a fortune; with warmth and love you can already create a great Christmas !

Becky

[officepro4u]

Yes, Debbie...I always put off one or two to do Christmas. Oh well ~ LOL!!! I usually just call and make a payment arrangement for after Christmas. I never seem to have a problem.

Diana:???:

[xmascrackers]

Through the year I add about $15 a month extra to my power bill, $5 a month extra to my phone bill and I buy a christmas club voucher each fortnight with my groceries. When December comes along I have very small power and phone bills to pay and a few extra dollars to play with in the grocery vouchers so that there is always a little extra money floating around at Christmas for those unexpected things. It works for me any way.

[mammaduke]

Through the year I add about $15 a month extra to my power bill, $5 a month extra to my phone bill and I buy a christmas club voucher each fortnight with my groceries. When December comes along I have very small power and phone bills to pay and a few extra dollars to play with in the grocery vouchers so that there is always a little extra money floating around at Christmas for those unexpected things. It works for me any way.

That sounds like a really great way to do it now that my husband is working we can do that after the 1st of the year. Thanks.

[mammaduke]

Yes, Debbie...I always put off one or two to do Christmas. Oh well ~ LOL!!! I usually just call and make a payment arrangement for after Christmas. I never seem to have a problem.

Diana:???:

I called all mone to it just gets so hard at times.:-) At least I know it's not just me.

[Sunshine73]

I do several things to avoid the Christmas financial bite.

First, I shop all year round and take advantage of sales. For example, back in July of this year our local Hallmark shop was having a sale on all Christmas Cherished Teddy figurines. These were normally priced at $35 to $70 a piece...they were on sale for $3.00 . So, DH and I picked out 7 of them to give to various people. For $22.00, I got 7 Christmas gifts and since $22.00 isn't a huge amount of money, I was able to afford it by skipping some simple luxuries that week.

Second, I budget for Christmas the way I budget for my car insurance. Starting in September I set aside a certain amount each paycheck for Christmas. If we're really strapped, I come up with the cash to set aside by trimming "extras" from our budget. For example: No going out to eat, cutting our food budget by making cheaper meals, and cutting unneccesary spending (like haircuts, new clothes, etc.).

Third, I "keep the change" both in my checking account and in cash. In my checking account, if I spend $32.50, I write down the actual amount ($32.50) but subtract $33.00 from my balance. If you use your checking account a lot (either writing checks or with your debit card) you will be surprised at how quickly the extra change adds up. Just be sure you balance your checkbook often and then, at Christmas time, you can withdraw your "extra change" and use it for spending money. DH and I usually average about $250.00 per year in checking change.

If you're more of a "use cash" person, then just throw whatever spare change you have at the end of the day into a jar and save it. You'd be surprised how quickly that adds up as well. My DH and I were once able to accumulate around $500 in a little over a year and a half.

Like someone else mentioned, I also send a bit extra to my various bills in order to build up a credit on the accounts so that when Christmas rolls around, there are a minimum of bills to be paid.

I figure that I want to have fun at Christmas, not spend time worrying about money and bills (that's what I've got the rest of the year for) so I do all the scrimping, saving and scheming the rest of the year so I can truly enjoy Christmas!

[kidzrme]

I shop for Christmas starting in September, a little at a time, so I don't have to come up with a large amount of money at once. Being a single mom I have learned lots of wasy to "cut corners" and yes, sometimes I do have to pay a little less to certain bills, but we also make sure that we stay as focused as possible on the real meaning of Christmas, and have never spent lots of money on gifts. It is harder to do that though, when they are little.

[Minta]

We do a Christmas club and set money aside in that each month. We get the money from it in Oct and that will cover about 80 to 90 % for out holiday costs. The rest will get budgeted in. I also shop sales all year long so by the time fall hits I already have a several gifts/stocking stuffers bought.

[mammaduke]

Thanks everyone that really helps . So now I know what I can do right after this Christmas is done to get ready for next year.
LOL, Debbie

[Annette1990]

Nope I pay the bills first..It helps if you start Christmas shopping really early..(picking things up here and there) so it doesn't hit you all at once.

[novelist]

:-xWe manage to pay all our bills in full and on time. Hubby and I try to be smart shoppers, getting presents on sale, and when theyre's an extra percentage off, thats even better.

[kelly ann]

I like to advantage of the three for two offers in shops. I always look around and compare prices online before I go shopping, it's best to know what you're looking for before you go shopping so then you dont end up spending over your budget.

I dont cut back on bills because i start shopping in september sometimes. closer to christmas is when shops start to sell things off anyway, so i leave other family members til last.

[SparkleNana]

This thread has lots of good ideas for handling regular bills (like electric, telephone) at Christmas. It's a great idea to pay ahead on these bills throughout the year, so the bills are small in December. And someone mentioned buying grocery store gift cards to save for holiday spending.

Things are much much harder in 2008. Prices are rising so horribly on every necessity! And jobs are going away - or threatened.

Does anybody have great ideas for 2008 finances?:rudolph:

[Christmasstar]

yes, in the past I have skipped bills to have fun at Christmas. I have also learned that if I pay a little extra every month on all my bills, then by December, I have paid enough ahead to be able to skip a month.

[Rackandrollgal]

I remember times when I had to juggle bills to buy Christmas gifts....those first few years in the military, when paychecks were tiny...

I now budget for gifts throughout the year, shop at sales when possible, and put them in my gift closet...wrapped, so I remember who I got them for...LOL

My family is LARGE...so we agreed long ago to make gifts for each other. These gifts are my favorite!

I shop sales, save change, make gifts and budget....even then, it seems tight at times...times are just hard these days!

[Merry Sage]

I used a Christmas Saver account with the credit union in my old job in Canada. It was the only way to afford making a nice Christmas for my two children.

Things have changed a lot, but not the cost of living. Especially here in England where its rapidly becoming prohibitive to the point that people have to choose "heat or eat". Exactly what it sounds like.

Personally, even with a lot fewer to buy for and the kids grown and gone, Christmas is something that requires some financial advance planning. :}

[ChristmasFan08]

I know people who pay a certain amount each month untill november and then get a booklet with loads of vouchers in which can bespent at nearly every shop . For example you pay £500 and get £500 in vouchers.

Its just a clever way to save up and make sure you dont spend themoney

[cipalla]

:treeguy:Our bills are always paid, but we are lucky we don't have to worry about that stuff. The way we save some money is to shop year round, I never stop, and that way you find the great deals. I ALWAYS go to every stores clearance isle to see what they have. Sometimes I buy nothing, and sometimes I come out with a ton of bags for little money. I only buy the clearance if I think it's a really good gift, I don't buy just because it's a deal. I already have 7 people completely done for Christmas, and they are wrapped! We also use credit cards only for all purchases. We get so many rewards that it's not beneficial to use cash. We get free hotel rooms, dinner cards, gift cards, and they can be used as gifts, or to purchase gifts, and that helps alot. I do like the idea of adding a little bit to each bill a month to ease it during the holidays! Genious! I would have never thought of that.

[DoubleA]

I try to save as much as possible throughout the year to be able to enjoy the Season to the fullest. On another plus I dont have many relatives or friends who have birthdays after June, so that also helps saving money after that month to get them something for Christmas extra special.

[Mumof2]

we save throughout the year.shop after christmas sales also.plus i have one credit card that is strictly for christmas and pay it off all year long,then use it for gifts.we have a christmas account and any loose change goes into a change bank,i shop all year long for gifts,if something catches my eye.i also make gifts,my family is big so i dont exchange with some of the adults,just the kids.but i do buy for my mum and my sister who is single.