I have finished my Christmas shopping
.my goal was to finish up Christmas by Thanksgiving weekend and I met my goal! This includes getting the kids photo card done, addressing and stamping the envelopes, though I wont mail them till later this week. (Sick, isnt it?) Ive been buying since late September and cash flowing everything. No end of year bonus type deal in our household, so its pay as you go! The only problem is, now everywhere I go I see cute stocking stuffer type things that I want to buy. I have to tell myself, No, you are done! You know, like Im a puppy or something.
Anyway, I decided early on that I would enjoy all of December stress free and just concentrate on doing holiday stuff with the family. I dont plan on being anywhere near a mall this month!
Just ran out at lunch and bought a 2015 monthly calendar (for $1) that I use for bill tracking and payments. I know, Im old school on that one. I have Quicken and all and the reminders are set in there, but I like to write in the amounts that vary as soon as a bill is received. It provides a nice at-a-glance scenario of whats coming up without having to boot up the computer. So at home tonight I will geek out over writing in all the regular bills. Wow, my life is sad.
But 2015 holds much promise. Depending on what the tax man brings in April, there is hope of paying off the credit card debt. And the student loan will definitely be gone by fall. I dont post often, but I read here a LOT, and I just have to reiterate my extreme gratitude for this board and all of you who post here. The knowledge Ive gained here has been invaluable to me in trying to become debt free. Absolutely invaluable. Thank you, budget minded friends, and have a wonderful holiday season!