My Gift List for 2008
UPDATE: I'm done with almost all of my holiday shopping and have managed to stay within budget - so far. I have to pick up one toy for a nephew and a gift for my sister, which might take me overboard. There is also the chance that I get sucked into the holiday spending cheer and buy more presents for Hubby. He reminded me last night that it is important to him to find under the tree each year a toy. But I'm pretty sure Santa is going to take care of that.
Keeping reading to see how I doled out my budget.
PREVIOUSLY: I'm scaling down my spending from $400 to $300 this year. How am I going to do that? I am not entirely sure.
I am cutting corners where I can without lowering the quality of my gifts, I am giving used books to kids instead of new ones, and I am buying less for Hubby.
I have 15 people (or groups of people in some cases) on my list so that means about $20/person. Below is how I plan to dole out my Christmas money. Family and friends stop reading now or risk the ire of the jolliest elf!
| gift for... | Approx. cost? |
| My family secret santa - no ideas yet | $65 |
| Hubby - socks, a pair of boxers, a secret present | $16 |
| My mother - a framed picture of Hubby and me | $14.50 |
| My father - a book | $10 |
| Three nephews - a book and Hot Wheels toy each, plus a remote control tarantula that I gave Hubby last year (a last minute impulse buy that the kids will actually play with) | $6 |
| Mother-in-law - contributing to an iPod | $75 |
| Bro and sis in-law - framed picture of Hubby and me | $11.50 |
| Other bro and sis in-law - gift card | $0 - we are re-gifting one we received recently that we know they will use |
| 2 nieces/3 nephews - a book each, a Wii game, and two toys | $68 |
| Rachelle - a card | $.42 |
| Amy & Jake - a card and bottle of wine | $8.50 |
| Merlin & Barbara - a card | $.42 |
| Alex - a card | $.42 |
| Colleagues and my boss - cards and cookies | $5 for baking ingredients |
| Neighbors - cookies and a coupon book for a dinner and favors, like dog walks and rides | $3 |
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About The Bargain Hunter
Daily News staff writer Julia Scott loves to find bargains on everything from groceries to Gucci. Her tips will help keep your hard earned cash where it belongs - in your pocket.
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to get a ipod just get her a mp3 player i got one for my hubby for less than 30 with shipping its an 8 gb so i hope hell like it
I hope this doesn't throw you off budget but it costs .42 cent to mail a card... OY !!!!
LOL. I. Am. Such. A. Dork. Of course stamps cost $.42 cents! How could I forget?? ~Julia
Enjoyed Laurie's comment and your response. ~Diane
With regard to what you're giving boss and colleagues, feh! Come up with something better!
Signed, Your Boss and Colleagues
My friend sent me a really neat gift for my kids and me that readers might be interested in. It is called a Germy Wormy. It reduces the spread of germs as it is a “disposable sleeve to protect clothes” and is a great tool to teach my kids to cough and sneeze in their elbow instead of their hands. (This is the way the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to prevent the spread of germs.) If we can stop the spread of germs and avoid 1 round of sickness, this is worth it! I think am giving these as holiday gifts to a few of my friends!
Check out their website.
http://www.germywormy.com
They have a fun for kids puppet show, activities, and a place to order the “arm sleeve”.
you have 4 nephews now :P
Doh! He's so little I almost forgot. Luckily, I picked up a gift for him Sunday night. ~Julia