Every year I look forward to Christmas, to see what the kids get, the looks on their faces, and the love that surrounds family and friends in excitement. As time draws closer and closer I find myself getting more and more anxious instead of excited! It all boils down to the fact that I have two children, limited income, their birthdays land one right after the other (RIGHT after Christmas), a husband, my family and his family! That is a lot of people to buy for! SO my challenge, which ends up really being two challenges, is to 1st save, save money for each of the kids to not only get Christmas & Birthday Presents, but to also be able to take a vacation, which hasn't happened in over six years! The second being, buy presents throughout the year, wrap them, label them and store them away for Christmas, that way I only see a little bit coming out of the account each time I get someone "bought for".
I start this challenge by using a 52 week money Challenge that I found on Pinterest. (Pinterest 52 Week Money Challenge) It starts out by adding just $1 the first week, and then $2 the second week (making a balance of $3) and $3 the third week (balance of $6) and so on and so forth until you get to week 52, depositing $52 to the savings account, making the ending balance (before interest accrued) $1,378! That is a good chunk of change, but not a whole lot out of your pocket at once, so you never miss it! Now, in reality, it is a lot of money, but isn't at the same time, and we all know how expensive it can be to deal with holiday's and birthday's, so I have taken it one step further. I am going to be doing this in 3 separate accounts! One in my daughter's name, my son's name, and one in my husband and I's name. This will make it a lot easier to continue to add on any extra later on and let the interest build on it, this makes it easy saving money for the kids' college, and us for a vacation! SO the first week of the year (now) I have deposited $3 into our accounts and the last week of the year I will deposit $156! Seems easy enough!
Second part of my challenge I will be making a list of everyone we need to or wish to buy for Christmas. I will have this list available in my financial binder, and as I find a gift or gifts for those on the list, I will write down what I found, wrap it and pack it! That way it is wrapped, all ready for Christmas, and packed away as to not get ripped open! :) This will also save money and time in the long run because I am not spending all of my money at once, and spontaneously (making a lot of us spend more money!)
Please feel free to follow my Pinterest Page and view my other boards!! Along with my Financial board there is a board called "Make My Own...", This page is a page with homemade products like dish washing detergents, all purpose cleaners, disinfecting wipes, and much more! Adding this to my 52 week Challenges I feel will also allow us to save money!
I am hoping to have a LOT less debt when this year comes to an end! The last two 1/2 years have proven to be some of the toughest with the Cancers and Surgeries! I am fighting to get my life back, one day, one moment at a time!
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