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  1. 12-26-2011, 07:11 AM #1
    AspiringToBeFrugal
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    Default Gift exchange--I was *THIS* close!

    Does your family do a fun gift exchange? Our's does. This year there wasn't a theme, you just had to bring a nice gift valued at $15 or less. I was *THIS* close to bringing home $15 cash but my uncle "swapped" his present for it so I ended up with a Dairy Queen gift card and some candy! Oh well...at least I can indulge DS's request for ice cream a few times without having to spend my own money!
    May Goals:
    Only $300 for groceries this month - $206/$300
    Monthly coupon/valued customer savings = $14.08
    No wasted food!
    Stick to budget!
    Track spending DAILY
    Get checkbook balanced
    Save $200 toward EF: $85/$200

    2012 FV Challenges: Try New Recipes Challenge: 22/52, Menu Planning Challenge: 21/52, Grocery Reduction Budget Challenge, Change Jar Challenge: $27.81 as of 1-14-12, Lose A Pound A Week Challenge: 3/48, No Wasted Food Challenge

    2012 Goals

    1. To pay off CC (only $917.15 left!) and never again charge more than I can pay off each month.
    2. Snowball the CC payment into Sears Credit Card bill (no interest) and get it paid off ASAP.
    3. Snowball the CC and Sears card payments into hospital bill (due w/ Baby #2 via C-section in mid-January). Pay that off ASAP.4. Snowball payments into DH's student loan (as of 12/4/11 there's still $4770.84 remaining). Pay off by 12/31/12.
    5. Keep our grocery budget to $300 each month.
    6. Use Dave Ramsey's budget sheet and get on track with this each pay period.
    7. Get and keep checkbook balanced and keep an eye (weekly if not daily) on our e-statements.
    8. Get savings account up to $8,000 (incl. emergency fund)
    9. Make 2 Christmas gifts per month: 0/24.
    10. Get our home organized: use a receipt book, keep my coupon organizer in check, have a touch-once policy for paper (touch once and then file or toss).
    11. Achieve "give or get" goal of $1500 for the board I serve on by 9/30/12.
    12. Taxes filed by March 17.
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  2. 12-26-2011, 08:23 AM #2
    VanVivCam
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    Default

    I don't do too well at those swap/exchanges...I get too attached too quickly to my gift and don't want to have to give it up
    Mom to Sara Louise (11) Wife to wonderful hubby Chad

    and furbabies Morrison passed away 12/9/07...will be missed greatly and Casey our German Shepherd mixed mutt from the local animal shelter
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  3. 12-26-2011, 10:59 AM #3
    Neeley
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    We do one on my mom's side ($40 gift). This year I took a $30 Wal-Mart gift card along with two sets of no-slip hangers for one gift and a six pack of Corona with two limes and a $30 Publix gift card. We let DS and DD do our part of the swap. DD ended up with a set of Tommy Hilfiger sheets and DS got a Black and Decker drill. DH and I were both very happy with our gifts. I was so glad we did not end up with one of the knife sets two other relatives brought. I had just donated two full sets of knives to Goodwill. Some of the cool gifts others brought this year were a huge bottle of Crown Royal with $10, an extender thing to clean high ceilings, change light bulbs, etc..., a Shark steamer, and a portable electric air pump.

    We call it "Dirty Santa" and is so much fun!
    DD (19)
    DS (16)
    DH (Knocking on 40's door)
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  4. 12-26-2011, 11:26 AM #4
    Winkie
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    We tried the swapping thing this year, but not everyone "got it" . We will try again next year...
    Fling 2012 in 2012 challenge: 200/2012
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