Planning Ahead

     Some of my fellow friends are already planning ahead for Christmas and I'm also a planner too! One can never have enough lists to follow. In my opinion, the holidays are stressful enough without having to worry about financial strain. Planning ahead may ease the discomfort of paying out money for gifts. 

    In all honesty, don't buy gifts if you cannot afford them. I'm perfectly happy with your presence. Showing up to family events is more meaningful to me. I have went ahead and bought Taylor two books to satisfy my something to read rule. Books aren't overly priced, so it's always my go to item. I will also be buying her something to wear as well. My mom always spoils her, so I know she will have plenty of toys and junk like that. 

    I think experiences are important as well. We might ride the train this year once I see what the prices of the tickets are. The Polar Express would be her main gift from me, if we decide to go. Of course she would be to little to remember it, but we could also go again at a later date. My family never had much so Christmas was always a struggle on my parents. I don't want Taylor to ever feel like I had to at Christmas. I can remember being around seven and feeling guilty mom had bought me a toy. She in turn had complained about not having enough money for other things (extra groceries). I'm humble and I appreciate  all that they did do for me, but it was always a double sided blade. 

    Christmas is supposed to be a happy time filled with memories. 


We will be:

1. Decorating cookies this year

2. Building our own ornaments 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Teacher's Lie by Brid Cummings

     A book review at its finest. I think every book is worthy of a review, so here goes nothing. I think the overall story is worth your time, however, I feel like the person who read it aloud on audible did the book dirty. Her accent and weird pausing in the middle of sentences really threw me off as a reader. I actually went back and purchased a paper copy. The author kept me guessing throughout each chapter, but the book was slow moving. I would put it down often to just take a break.      I would give this book a 3 out of a 5 due to the pacing and sequencing of events in the plot. Do not listen to it on  Audible, because it's terrible and dry.  
Read more

LGFCU to Civic Bank

      This transition or merger has driven me absolutely crazy. I hate it and cannot even fathom how everything will work out. As a customer, I'm so annoyed and the lack of answers by actual people is ridiculous. So, I guess it will be only online banking? With school, a toddler, and a small farm I have not had the chance to move everything over to a different bank. It wouldn't matter anyway, because I have a loan through them that will transfer to the Civic bank.      Ahhhh!  Today, our cards stopped working and I was so upset. I had forgot and didn't get money out of the ATM beforehand. They forget that some of us are over 30 minutes away from the nearest town! I guess cash is really KING! I just home all my automatic withdrawals don't mess up along with everything else. I have no idea how older people will get through this phase. Both my mom and grandmother don't even use computers and can barely operate their phones. Both of them have never even us...
Read more

Tonies

      I'm not a big spender and this gift was not from me. A family member purchased my daughter a Tonies starter set. It is geared for children over three years old, but Taylor has fell in love with the characters. She opened it Christmas Eve and has played with it on and off ever since. It was an unexpected gift that was WAY out of my price range.  Review:      My personal review is nothing but positive although looking online made me realize how much was spent on my child. It appears that said family member paid over $100 for the set. I'm unsure it is truly worth that price, but it is entertaining.  Taylor is old enough to understand that when the character is placed on top it plays music. She will then dance around it while laughing. She only gets to play with it when we are there to supervise. Tonies has made a creative way for kids to access entertainment without having a screen in their face. As a parent the set up was somewhat confusing, b...
Read more