Save $1,000 by Christmas

[FarmerChick]

http://att.my.yahoo.com/_ylt=Auif30...2881-0-find-1000-by-the-holidays?ywaad=ad0035


Yup, we can do it! Money in hand and Christmas paid for in cash.
Great deal!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

i saw this too! great ideas



for me - we are giving our friends/family the same thing - a big sack of fresh pork and some eggs

;-)

 

[FarmerChick]

great gift!

 

[miss_thenorth]

1. Any rebate has to do with RRSP purchases--not work related, so can't do anything there

2. Grocery store trips are once every two weeks. Grocery spending lately has been bare minimum (~$300/mo) so no savings there.

3. No habits to kick. No smoking, drinking gambling, shopping, nothing.

4. Eat out maybe once every 4 months. and usually with a coupon.

5. Our furnace hasn't even been turned on yet. and when it does come on, the thermostat willl be set at 66 F during the day, and 57 at night. (it's 66 in the house right now--perfect temp for doing housework)

6. Phone is bare minimum already, no cable.

So guess how much I'm saving before Christmas? :/

 

[2dream]

Wow - that would be a major stretch for me since this is the time of year that things get tight anyway. Two house insurance payments are really a major ouch for me plus momma is in her gap on her prescription drug coverage which means meds are full price for Oct. Nov and Dec.
Of course I do not now or ever in the past finance Christmas. Once again (seems to be a pattern developing for me over the last 5 years). I have not even thought about Christmas where in years gone past I was usually finished Christmas shopping by mid September. Since Christmas is a simple affair for us. Only Grandkids get gifts and that is limited to $50.00 each. One suit of clothes, 1 toy and 1 book each. The two children that are not married and have children each get $50. Once they marry and have children that will stop and their children will recieve gifts.
But I am up to the challange. I will see what I can do. Maybe half that but who knows. I don't have premium channels on my cable. My cell phone is only $9.99 a month and DH's is only 39.99. I can stop some of my extra buying at the store. I probably spend at least 10 a week on those impulse buys for things we don't need.
So that is about 45 a month. I normally take my lunch but still spend probably 20 a week for the days I don't take lunch. So there is another 80 a month.
Just off the top of my head between now and Christmas I found $352.50 based on 2.5 months since it is already mid October.
Maybe I can make this challange.

 

[FarmerChick]

WOW
WOW

that is interesting.

most of us (me included) couldn't bank that 1K by Dec 20 for presents.

I bet TONS of households could bank $$ more than that.



Hmm....see the internet says we can do it. Many can. I could, to a degree if sacrifice was severe above what they mentioned also. Heck I have to pay $160 for Tony's darn med expenses due on the 13th and checking is getting short.

What $ Tony brings home from the farmer market today means which "extra" of those nasty bills I can pay now. Argh.....rob peter to pay paul is normal in this house.

I know folks.

Eye opening though.
very eye opening.

 

[2dream]

Very eye opening since I figure of I don't save a 1000 by Christmas I can save 352. Which makes me think I can do at least that each quarter for a whopping total of 1408.00 a year without much effort.

Imagine if I really set my mind to it and looked for other little things that make my money disappear.

 

[delia_peterson]

I know people that are not SS that could easily do this challenge...if they wanted to. But thats the sad part, they do not see the need.I tried to explain this post to a friend of mine and he just shook his head like I was crazy.. I was the same way a year ago. Thank God I opened my eyes! And found this site... Hmmm..I guess he won't like his homemade Christmas gift too much! lol!

 

[chipmunk]

Hey 2Dream-- have your mom ask her doctor(s) for samples of her medications. I work with a primary care practice, and we are very fortunate that we can help folks who are in the donut hole that way. I know some other area doctors that do that, too. Even if it's only a month's worth of some meds, every little bit helps.

 

[2dream]

Thanks Chipmunk - I have an appointment Monday for myself with one of her Drs. I intend to ask him then - But so far none of the others have been able to come through for me. One is a blood pressure med and no one has samples apparently. Its almost 300.00 without the insurance for 1 month. No generic replacement available either.