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Budgeting this Holiday
Focused on my financial and mental wellness this season, I have a plan for holiday shopping this Christmas. An actual plan that I will follow to completion so that I can be more relaxed during all of the activities this time of the year brings our way. See, I'm the type that usually waits until the last minute to do all of my holiday shopping and then splurges on gifts that had no real thought put into them. The first thing I have to remember this year is: I can't buy a gift for everyone! This one I have to keep repeating to myself over and over. I would love to really; I thoroughly enjoy gift giving and making people happy. But there is always something you can make them (just ask Martha Stewart) or something you can write in a card that came from the heart that they will appreciate just as much as something store bought. Step two: Make a list. I let my husband tell me approximately how much we'll be able to spend on everyone. Kids come first. Then immediate family. We make a table with the person's name we want to buy for, a budgeted amount to spend on that person, a gift idea and then a column for the amount actually spent after we find the gift. I'm also trying to budget in all of the extras like cards, wrapping paper, postage & shipping. This really allows me to focus on everyone's gift and be mindful of the budget. Step three, STAY AWAY FROM THE STORE! This one is almost impossible. I'm trying to do most of my shopping online. I've been somewhat successful at this. I think it takes more time to shop online because of all of the navigating through certain sites that are poorly organized or are too organized, and of course quite a few gifts I've tried to order were out of stock online but available in the store. So, I will have to make at least one or two trips to the toy store. I plan on doing this during the week when the stores aren't as busy and I will meditate for at least 30 minutes beforehand. If you've been shopping on a Saturday lately, you know what I'm talking about. I don't want to walk out of the store ready to scream and the traffic is horrible. There is nothing about last minute Christmas shopping that is pleasant. And finally, step four: Enjoy the holiday! After the shopping and wrapping and cooking, I will take time to sit down with my family and enjoy the time that we have to spend with each other.
posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/13/10 at 09:24 AM. [printer version] Share |
COMMENTS
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May 23, 2012 | 01:37 PMBryant Signs Voter ID Bill
golden eagle: Wow, my English was bad on the previous post. You know how it is on these iPhones.
May 23, 2012 | 12:30 PM
Bryant Signs Voter ID Bill
golden eagle: @Jess, I think the word you're looking for is "assassination". @Darryl, do we really know that the majority of MS'ians wanted this, when you consider that this was a ...
May 23, 2012 | 12:18 PM
Bryant Signs Voter ID Bill
DonnaLadd: I can only hope that the reason that this bill passed is that, for once, our lawmakers listened to the majority of Mississippians and crafted this bill. Considering that the ...
May 23, 2012 | 11:57 AM
Bryant Signs Voter ID Bill
justjess: @Darryl 5/23 "....for once, our lawmakers listened to the majority of Mississippians and crafted this bill." My question is still on the table: What were you "majority ...
May 23, 2012 | 05:26 AM
Bryant Signs Voter ID Bill
Darryl: justjess, I can only hope that the reason that this bill passed is that, for once, our lawmakers listened to the majority of Mississippians and crafted this bill. But, recall, that ...
May 22, 2012 | 04:26 PM
One Night at Fenian's
DonnaLadd: ... because if there is anything The Clarion-Ledger can muster the resources to do, it's show up any night of the week and take drunk pictures. Meantime, they crib our sports stories. ...
May 22, 2012 | 03:53 PM
One Night at Fenian's
Rico: Next time just call Metro Mix at the C-L and have them come and take some pretty pictures for the newspaper. Hell, the got some on karaoke night Monday.
May 22, 2012 | 02:07 PM
[Editorial] To Do Its Job, Council Must Show Up
RobbieR: And Chokwe wants to run for Mayor? Hopefully the citizens of Jackson don't fall for this clown's rhetoric.
May 22, 2012 | 01:15 PM
Catholics Sue Over Birth Control Rule
Brian C Johnson: I cannot decide whether this is a vanity lawsuit, in the sense that the bishops know they stand little chance of prevailing in court. Or to put it more charitably, ...
May 22, 2012 | 01:00 PM
Bryant Signs Voter ID Bill
Brian C Johnson: Darryl, I think it is simply a statement of fact that African Americans in Mississippi are less likely to have the required photo ID. If so, the new law is discriminatory in ...
May 22, 2012 | 11:25 AM
Bryant Signs Voter ID Bill
Duan C.: I am in agreement with Golden Eagle - requiring I.D. ties a fee into voting, the only reason why its considered "discriminatory" towards black, is because it places back into an era ...
May 22, 2012 | 10:22 AM
Person of the Day: Rep. Andy Gipson
RobbieR: What? I was clearly referring to Bennie Thompson, not Rep. Gipson. Rep. Bennie Thomson represents Mississippi's 2nd Congressional district; Darryl noted that he rep'd the ...
May 22, 2012 | 09:59 AM
Bryant Signs Voter ID Bill
justjess: Darryl, out of my "simple ignorance" I ask you this "little question:" Why are registered voters here in the State of Mississippi being asked to produce a picture ID? When the State ...
May 22, 2012 | 08:49 AM
Person of the Day: Rep. Andy Gipson
Duan C.: @ Robbie R - you lost me on that one? They have him listed in the 77th District - covering Rankin, Simpson, and Smith counties?
May 22, 2012 | 08:47 AM
Bryant Signs Voter ID Bill
bill_jackson: I would be interested to know what percentage of the voting age population does not have identification in this day and age.
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