I got brave yesterday, and took both the Grandma’s shopping, along with my sis-in-law, and Thade. We had a great time, Thade wasn’t too happy, but oh well. We only made it a few places, but I think that the Grandma’s got some pretty good gift ideas for Thade.
Today I finished my shopping online. I’m a bit of an online shopping junkie, it is way too easy. No lines, no crowds, I get to shop in my jammies, and I don’t have to get Thade out. So I am all finished for the season. Thank goodness!
I’m really trying to get in the Christmas spirit, but after 26 years it just isn’t taking. We’ve been out looking at lights(nothing), I’m watching Christmas decorating shows(still nothing). I still have the tree hiding in the closet, and the ornaments have gone missing.
I have the Christmas dread, the cooking, the cleaning, the family in and out, and needed to be waited on hand and foot, then the clean-up after the big day. Not to mention the wrapping, last minute shopping, and making sure that I have enough food to pull off a meal for ten or so. Yeah, this just isn’t my favorite time of the year.
I am so stressed out over holiday finances. This is by far the most expensive time of year. Every day I’m off to the mailbox in hopes of holiday cards, only to find holiday bills. The gas bill (huge), tags and taxes due on the cars (huge), even our electric bill is still huge. I’m so sick of it. Gas prices are still so high, that I don’t want to drive anywhere, and this week we are driving to Thanksgiving.
Today we went to the store to stock up on the weekly groceries, and I had to get gas, because I have to drive out of state to find a decent price on groceries. So the little trip to the store ends up taking two hours round trip. And I’ll have to turn around and do it again, sooner than later.
I’m planning the holiday meal (I’m doing Christmas dinner this year), but I think after I buy the supplies, there goes the rest of my Christmas budget. Gone, poof. I think next year I’ll start a savings account just for these end of the year expenses, and save up for the big day. But you know how that goes.
We finished our errands extra early today, it is freezing outside. We gassed up the Jeep, and drove around town for a little bit, and then headed home. They are calling for snow today, and the wind is crazy outside. I’m so not ready for winter yet.
Thade is busy watching Cars for about the 50th time, and I’m doing some Christmas browsing online. I’m almost all finished with the shopping. Meal planning is what is next for me to do. I’m debating between making it simple, or going all out and cooking a giant meal. What to do…
This last weekend, Thade, my mom, and I headed up to K.C. to visit my brother. The weather was so cold, but we had a great time. We got to shop, and eat tons of great food. We made a visit to Toys R Us for Thade, which he loved. I quickly realized that if I lived in K.C. I would be completely broke from all of the awesome places to go and spend money.
It was a great trip, and I hope to get there more often to visit.