Christmas update!

I have only 7 presents left to buy! I'm so excited!! I LOVE Christmas, and I LOVE getting it done early and saving so much money! I know to some it seems extreme since there are people in the world that still have Christmas lights UP at this moment from last year, but I say leave em up! It's Arkansas afterall, and it's gonna roll around here again before too long! :)

What kind of progress have you made on Christmas so far? Have you decided if you will draw names? Have you set a budget for each person? Have you decided to try something new this year?

I have so much going right now that I honestly can't remember if I have posted or not about our "recycled" Christmas for this year. We have decided to only buy used things. OR, at it can be brand new if it was bought at a re-sale shop. Sometimes you DO run into those great buys that still have the tags on them but they are for a fraction of the cost! That counts :) I'm so excited! It's been so fun! I have enjoyed shopping for nice, gently used, items that will make up our family Christmas! Unfortunately we got on the ball too late so the only ones this affects are those that LIVE in my house, but I plan to branch out next year if it comes off successful.

This makes it a challenge. It makes it a challenge to find great items without breaking the bank. Oh and our budget is $50 bucks a person. So for $50 bucks I have to provide a Christmas for my husband and then I get $50 bucks for my daughter. Now SHE has already racked up because I get awesome deals at consignment events such as Rhea Lana and Duck Duck Goose. In FACT, I got her 2 brand new toys for $3 bucks a piece back in the spring and I am holding onto those for dear life. She will LOVE them!

Keep the savings fun. Make it a game. Create a challenge out of it. Even make a reward for who saves the most? You GOTTA keep it fun!

So what about you... any fun stories you can share?

Valentines Day

Just being honest... we aren't big "V-Day" people at our house. I always get my daughter something small just so that she doesn't think I forgot, but as far as me and my husband... not so much. I've been married 9 years out of my life already and I can't think of a good Valentines Day yet. And then before THAT of course it was high school drama and I just never liked the holiday.

BUT... doesn't really matter if I personally celebrate it or not, this is a HUGE holiday to many and a very large money maker! It's also a time to completely BLOW your budget.

SO... how are you going to celebrate this magnificent holiday with your lovely significant other without breaking the bank? HOPEFULLY you already planned this out but just in case....

**Write each other love letters
**Google old poetry and find one thats perfect, and re-write it for your lover
**Watch HIS favorite movie with him (that you already own, of course)
**Send him a text during the day with a promising suprise waiting at home. The suprise can be YOU... doesn't have to cost a dime.
**make a cd using the songs you downloaded from limewire long before they got rid of it :)
**Tell your spouse that you love them, cook supper TOGETHER, watch a movie TOGETHER, and just enjoy being TOGETHER

I'm sure have other ideas that will work as well. I have some REALLY good ones, but this blog is meant to help people stay on their budgets, not to improve their love lives. :)

I sincerely hope that you have a marvelous Valentines Day and that you get to spend it with the one you love.