August is traditionally the time when I start buying Christmas gifts for our children. I know that sounds crazy, but it actually helps our family keep our finances in order during the months leading up to Christmas. By planning ahead, I can avoid pulling money from our savings account to fund our holiday traditions.
Starting in August, I purchase 5 gifts per month (one gift for each child). By the time December arrives, each child will already have 4 gifts. When other people begin freaking out about buying Christmas gifts, I am nearly done with all of my shopping.
Keeping with tradition, I purchased each child a gift at the beginning of this month. And keeping with tradition, my children threw a wrench into my well laid plans. My 2 oldest children have requested expensive electronics for their gift. Ugh. I really do miss the days of toys! toys! toys! Life was much simpler (and cheaper) when they were little. Why do children insist on growing up?
Although we don’t follow a strict budget for Christmas gifts, we certainly don’t go crazy. If we purchase the requested gifts, our older children will only receive 1 or 2 gifts from us on Christmas day. Although that makes me sad, we have explained the situation to them. The kids seem totally fine with this arrangement. They are growing up, and it is a hard pill for this mama to swallow. Fortunately, I still have 3 little kids who love getting toys for Christmas. My holiday has not been ruined!
Unlike previous years, I plan on keeping a record of how much we spend on Christmas gifts this year. I will share this information with you at the beginning of December. I am hopeful that we can use the data we gather to help us better plan for future Christmas celebrations.
When do you start buying Christmas gifts? Are you a planner, like me? Or do you prefer the hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping season?