Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Saving This Christmas

We had 36 Trick or Treaters here this year, down quite a few from the year before. I expected more as it was both Friday night and it was not raining  - obviously I overbought candy.  Next year, I am buying for 40 and if we run out - lights out.  I hung the skeleton that we found last year at a garage sale for $2(below) on the front door below my fall wreath.  He has a motion sensor,  talks to you and sticks out his tongue when someone comes to the door.  The kids loved it.  




So now that it is November my thoughts have turned to Christmas.  We are not going to be travelling like we originally planned and will have to decide within a week exactly what we are doing with our flights to Alberta as they must be changed. Our original plans to go to Mexico have been shelved as my Stepdaughter who is living with us now is still in school at that time.  Things are a bit up in the air right now, hopefully to be sorted out soon.  


The second Halloween was over I received emails about doing Christmas shopping from various retailers.  Our Christmas money has been saved already(I start saving January 1 each year) so now I just have to make a plan as to what to buy for our family.  We give part cash and small gift to each of the kids as they are older now and much harder to shop for.  Instead of hubby and I buying each other a gift this year we have decided to get a dog, which likely will happen closer to January based on having to acquire a non-allergenic dog due to hubbies allergies.  There are zero rescue dogs here with those qualities so we are in the process of researching our best options.  

I mentioned it briefly last month but I am reviving the "No More Christmas Crap" campaign once again for the Christmas Season.  
No More Christmas Crap Campaign

Before you jump to conclusions and think I am rather Scrooge-like read further (this is a reprint from my post last year).  This Campaign is about having a wonderful Christmas by not spending anything more than you need to.  

Recycled wrappings saved throughout the year
The Guidelines:


1. Save your money strictly for gifts and food items for the Christmas entertaining season. This also means if you want to buy Christmas crap for another person as a gift - it is permitted. If you make gifts you would be permitted to buy supplies under this guideline.


2. If you feel you must buy some Christmas decorations - they should be obtained free by way of Freecycle, nature, family, or purchased second hand at garage sales or thrift stores to pay a fraction of retail cost. Our local thrift stores have a great selection of decorations, lights, and even Christmas bows, wrapping and bags. Nature is also a great supplier - leaves, branches, shells, driftwood, get your CREATIVE on. 


3. After Christmas each year recycle wrappings, bows, baubles, baskets, and ribbons for use the following year. Re-make Christmas cards into gift tags. Re-use all gift bags. Obviously if this is your first year you will have to plan to do this-although you still have a couple months to save up. Throughout the year save ribbon, packing materials, boxes, wrapping paper and bags for use.  If you are consciously thinking ahead on saving these items, you will be surprised at what you end up with at the end of the year. On your first year of the campaign try and use up what you have - or buy at thrift stores.


4. You are permitted to attend Christmas related functions - even when they cost money. Try and limit the cost to only what the actual cost is to attend. Rather than running out to buy a new outfit for the Christmas Party use what you already have, borrow something from a friend or family member, or buy it second hand at a thrift store or consignment store. Save your money for the important stuff!


5. If you just completely fall in love with something Christmas related - make it known to those who are buying you gifts as receiving Christmas crap as a gift is allowed.

6. The Out. If one hopes of complying with this campaign there has to be at least one GET OUT OF JAIL FREE card. If you must - you are permitted to buy one single new item valued at less than $15 CAD. In years past I have purchased holiday themed paper napkins as had a very large family to feed and don't have enough cloth napkins. This might also include a package of reduced wrapping paper after Christmas for next year's campaign or that special something handmade off of ETSY.


This year I have already used my Out - the cute little owl ornament purchased new a few weeks ago for $5.


Those are the rough guidelines - feel free to amend them to your lifestyle as you see fit.  If you have already spent money one items, don't worry about it - start from today. You will be amazed at how much you save just by not buying wrapping paper!


So what do you say, are you joining the no more Christmas Crap Campaign?

21 comments:

  1. I've got the best money saving idea ever for Xmas, ignore it! Bah humbug! x

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    1. When I was single I used to travel out of country at Christmas - so much easier. But then I got married and now have 4 stepkids and 2 elderly parents. A bit harder to do but I completely understand the sentiment.

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  2. I was in the fabric store on Sunday to buy thread(was fresh out of white!)and while waiting in line browsed the Xmas ornaments they had for sale.
    What a bunch of dreck! And they wanted $12.99US for them! I wouldn't have given you $2 for 'em. Clunky, ugly and too heavy to boot.

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    1. I agree - most of it plastic crap too! I love old ornaments for that reason.

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  3. That's a GREAT skeleton!!! We didn't have many trick or treaters although we did run out of candy. I was surprised because I thought I bought plenty! I did, indeed, find two big bags Louis Dean left in the trunk the next day!

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  4. I can't believe how fast it's approaching!

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    1. I know, right? Seems faster than other years, that is for sure.

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  5. We were surprised by the 'shortage' of Trick-or-Treaters at our home too! ...and also ended up with a SURPLUS of candy - Oh well, worse things have happened ;-) .
    Your 'No-New' Christmas Campaign sounds like my standard - 365 days a year!! So, COUNT ME IN!! Let's pay a 'little' homage to THANKSGIVING first though...

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    1. Yes - Happy Thanksgiving - we already had ours (Oct 13th in Canada)so no slight was intended :) I still like seeing the Trick or Treaters so continue to give out the candy. Perhaps I should just freeze the leftovers and we will be happier to have all that candy around the house in spring?

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  6. I love you skeleton. He brought a smile to my face!
    I love how you have found way to save on Christmas expenses and that you already have all of your money saved. I'm still working on it and cashing in everything. I don't think that I will save as much as I need but its better than having to pay for it all out of pocket. I have other moneys that I have set aside so I won't have a bill waiting for me in January but I would have liked to have gotten all the money for free!

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    1. We have a big family, they cost more :) We never give them gifts through the year, only Christmas and Birthdays. As long as we can afford to we will continue to do so. Likely when they have kids things will change though.

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  7. Bleck to Christmas, I'm the biggest grinch ever! I wish I could completely ignore it. Funny enough I have most people done for, just need to wrap it up and get a couple of things bought/made asap. Most of it was stuff I'd thrifted throughout the year, stuff from my vintage stock; easy. To me it's most important to get the nieces and nephews something since Christmas is for the kids. For friends/immediate family it's more about spending quality time and sharing raw vegan treats.

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    1. We have four kids to buy for and it is different when you have kids. We still buy for our Mothers but they are both widows and think it is still important to do so. Hubby's mom will spend Christmas with hubby's brother and my mom will spend with us so we will buy a bunch of small gifts for both of them. We don't buy for friends and our gift to each other this year is a puppy (which unfortunately we cannot get a rescue dog since hubby is allergic and it is virtually impossible to get one that would work for us)

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  8. $2 for that guy was a steal. Kids love Halloween. I am making a crochet hanger cover to hold scarves for my friend. We don't have family any more, so we use money to donate to the local Christmas Cheer Committee for hampers for people in need. We are also going to put together a basket for a old guy who lives on the lake. He's a bit of a hermit, so I hope he will enjoy it. He always stops to talk to us when he comes to town for supplies. - Margy

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    1. We really only buy for the 4 kids, each other and our two windowed Mothers. We have a large family and try and splurge a bit at Christmas. Now that things are paid off like the house it is much easier to do so. I love that idea of gifting the Hermit. Likely he doesn't have any family to share things with at Christmas and will greatly appreciate it.

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  9. You are much more liberal in your buying rules than I am. But, our frugality is not a contest. Hey, what happened to Thanksgiving. Love your blog.

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    1. We are frugal in other ways - and don't give gifts to our family except at Christmas and Birthdays. With four kids - we have to be exactly equal so have set a budget that I save year round for :)

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    2. Sorry forgot to mention - we have had our Canadian Thanksgiving in October already - but Happy Thanksgiving to you!

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  10. We did have rain on Halloween so we had a few leftovers. Not too many though as I started handing out more to the few stragglers at the end. For the past 3 years I've been downsizing my Christmas decorations and still feel I have TOO many so will once again scrutinize what I have in hopes of giving more away. I have a feeling we won't be putting up our tree this year or putting up many decorations - the kittens will be sure to demolish anything sparkly!!

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    1. Cats can do that. We are getting a puppy but likely it won't be available until late January so will be putting up all the decorations as usual. I get a kick out of it and downsized quite a lot of them before we moved. Christmas decorations are the one thing I have lots of and definitely cannot be called minimalist over.

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