Wake Up, It's Time To S-H-O-P!!!
Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving. A day filled with crazy discount deals and crazy shoppers. I am one of those crazy people who loves to get a good deal....loves to get up early and race through the stores...ignoring the fact that it the sun is not up, and the stores are filled with mobs of crazy people! Call me crazy!
As I have been trying to learn better money management habits through the years, I have had a strange love-hate relationship with shopping, even on Black Friday. I loved the adventure and excitement, and saving all kinds of money. Until later, when buyer's remorse would set in. At some point I would wise up to the fact that I was spending money, not saving money. I would have saved a lot more money if I would have just stayed out of the stores in the first place!
A little over a year ago, I decided to change course. I quit shopping. I stayed out of the stores as much as I could. I stopped looking at sales ads. I did most of the shopping for the kids birthdays online, where the numbers and totals were always in focus. I did not participate in the Black Friday fun last year. I hardly bought any toys, shoes, or clothes at all.
Instead, I filled my time purging the stuff out of our house. I purged clothes. I purged toys. I purged shoes. I filled bags and bags of clothes and passed them along to younger kids. I took inventory of what amount of clothes, shoes, and toys were actually used regularly. I reminded myself that we are greatly blessed with extended family who buy for the kids with every birthday, Christmas, and many holidays in-between.
Our children have grandparents who spoil them well. So, I did not need to budget for all of their clothes and shoes, as their grandparents and Aunts like to buy these things too. Instead, we are able to focus on specific clothing items, such as sports uniforms and Christmas/Easter dress clothes. We can focus on educational toys or items needed for a sport or activity that the kids are involved in.
It took me time to re-align my priorities away from the stuff.
This year, I am armed with a very strong, very organized Christmas shopping budget. Credit cards are not an option. I brainstormed gift ideas in advance. I listed my ideas out in columns on a spreadsheet. Each time I purchase an item on the list, I enter the total on the spreadsheet. This method is helping me to stay completely within the budgeted amount for each child. It is helping me to focus only on those items that the kids really want/need.
This year, I am enjoying shopping again. I look at sales ads and scan for the specific items on my list.....keeping any eye out for the best price I can find. This year, I set an alarm and woke up early to join the crowds of crazy people seeking Black Friday discounts.
I have had a blast shopping today! I am home now, just thrilled by how well I managed to buy some items on my list at such reduced sale prices. I had a good time being out in the crowds. I got some great deals. Most exciting of all, I stuck to my budget! Score!
An added bonus to my shopping fun today is that I found adorable Christmas dressy outfits for the kids, at Black Friday sale prices!
Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving. A day filled with crazy discount deals and crazy shoppers. I am one of those crazy people who loves to get a good deal....loves to get up early and race through the stores...ignoring the fact that it the sun is not up, and the stores are filled with mobs of crazy people! Call me crazy!
As I have been trying to learn better money management habits through the years, I have had a strange love-hate relationship with shopping, even on Black Friday. I loved the adventure and excitement, and saving all kinds of money. Until later, when buyer's remorse would set in. At some point I would wise up to the fact that I was spending money, not saving money. I would have saved a lot more money if I would have just stayed out of the stores in the first place!
A little over a year ago, I decided to change course. I quit shopping. I stayed out of the stores as much as I could. I stopped looking at sales ads. I did most of the shopping for the kids birthdays online, where the numbers and totals were always in focus. I did not participate in the Black Friday fun last year. I hardly bought any toys, shoes, or clothes at all.
Instead, I filled my time purging the stuff out of our house. I purged clothes. I purged toys. I purged shoes. I filled bags and bags of clothes and passed them along to younger kids. I took inventory of what amount of clothes, shoes, and toys were actually used regularly. I reminded myself that we are greatly blessed with extended family who buy for the kids with every birthday, Christmas, and many holidays in-between.
Our children have grandparents who spoil them well. So, I did not need to budget for all of their clothes and shoes, as their grandparents and Aunts like to buy these things too. Instead, we are able to focus on specific clothing items, such as sports uniforms and Christmas/Easter dress clothes. We can focus on educational toys or items needed for a sport or activity that the kids are involved in.
It took me time to re-align my priorities away from the stuff.
This year, I am armed with a very strong, very organized Christmas shopping budget. Credit cards are not an option. I brainstormed gift ideas in advance. I listed my ideas out in columns on a spreadsheet. Each time I purchase an item on the list, I enter the total on the spreadsheet. This method is helping me to stay completely within the budgeted amount for each child. It is helping me to focus only on those items that the kids really want/need.
This year, I am enjoying shopping again. I look at sales ads and scan for the specific items on my list.....keeping any eye out for the best price I can find. This year, I set an alarm and woke up early to join the crowds of crazy people seeking Black Friday discounts.
I have had a blast shopping today! I am home now, just thrilled by how well I managed to buy some items on my list at such reduced sale prices. I had a good time being out in the crowds. I got some great deals. Most exciting of all, I stuck to my budget! Score!
An added bonus to my shopping fun today is that I found adorable Christmas dressy outfits for the kids, at Black Friday sale prices!
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