Most Expensive Month of the Year

**forHISglory** · 11-24-2008, 03:02 PM

November is the most expensive month of the year for us. Our house insurance is due then, as well as insurance on our vehicles and trailer. We also have to license the trailer in November. Real estate and personal property taxes come then (not due until December, but we pay them in November and get it over with). It's my hubby's birthday month, and we also travel for Thanksgiving. Years ago, we didn't anticipate all of this, and we ended up having nothing for Christmas. Since that time, we started putting 1/12 of the anticipated amount away each month.

Now when November comes with all its gray skies, we know that we have it under control.

How about you? What is the most expensive month for your family? How are you handling it? Your story might inspire others, especially those just starting out.

**forHISglory** · 11-24-2008, 03:12 PM

I don't know why this posted twice, but just ignore this thread, and look at the other one. Weird.......

**Jessesbride** · 11-24-2008, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by forHISglory

November is the most expensive month of the year for us. Our house insurance is due then, as well as insurance on our vehicles and trailer. We also have to license the trailer in November. Real estate and personal property taxes come then (not due until December, but we pay them in November and get it over with). It's my hubby's birthday month, and we also travel for Thanksgiving. Years ago, we didn't anticipate all of this, and we ended up having nothing for Christmas. Since that time, we started putting 1/12 of the anticipated amount away each month.

Now when November comes with all its gray skies, we know that we have it under control.

How about you? What is the most expensive month for your family? How are you handling it? Your story might inspire others, especially those just starting out.

Ours is actually December/January... & April/May b/c Dec/Jan between Christmas & all the bdays (no kidding... ds is dec 29 & dh is Jan 4 & until Jan 10th we have bdays in the family daily!) & then April/may b/c we usually owe taxes, plus my tag, & usually that is when dental issues tend to arise.. don't know why!).

We now have a Christmas/Birthday fund that we paid $50/mo to have a total of $600, tho this yr we will probably increase the funds to about $75/mo.

& we have less deductions this yr so hopefully we won't have to pay taxes as much this year, if any at all. Tho hard to tell as this yr I've had 2 seperate jobs, but neither which I actually came close to the monthly amount I made when I worked at the OK Secretary of State's office (quit March 2007)! & also, in 2008 I didn't withdraw $$$ or get any kind of inheritance so that means I don't have to pay on any of that THIS year! Hopefully we will get some back this yr! I hate paying into the IRS!!! THo it is better than the alternative!!! lol! I'd just rather get paid back...even if only $20!!!

Kim

**Palooka** · 11-24-2008, 11:32 PM

Ours is December because our house and car taxes are due and plus Christmas and my step-daughters birthday. July is another one because my 2 kids birthday's is 3 days apart!

**nvmommyx6** · 11-24-2008, 11:38 PM

Dec and Jan, besides the obvious, we have 5 birthdays in those months as well!!

**Wendy99** · 11-24-2008, 11:42 PM

November - we do our c hristmas shopping, my parents birthdays are in november & the kids have friends bday parties that are in november .. also christmas dinner start & then I start buying extra stuff to take to potlucks, start looking for clothes to wear to the fancier dinners, get hair cut etc ... definately november ... the other most expensive month would be august ... summer vacation!

**janelane** · 11-25-2008, 12:08 AM

The past two years it's been April because we've owed taxes. Hopefully that won't happen this year. Other than that it's the thanksgiving to early January corridor. There are family birthdays everyday between 11/28 - 12/4, including mine, my brother's, and DH's mother & grandmother. Then Christmas. Then our anniversary on Jan 4. It doesn't have to be expensive money wise, but it's by far the most taxing on my sanity, lol.

**winner** · 11-25-2008, 09:11 AM

This year: October 3 mortgage payments and I was off on sick leave, ouch... December (Christmas and wedding presents), March (Sewage, utilities bills, 3 bithdays) July, 3 mortgage payments and home taxes. This is my first year where I managed to put aside money for Christmas/Birthday fund, and bought presents during the year (it is big relief for me). I save $40 a month, but I feel is not enough. Starting New Year I will increase to $50.00.
I have a question for all of you. When you save for Christmas Fund is it strictly only for presents or you include your baking, shipping, stamps, cards costs as well?

**bumplett** · 11-25-2008, 09:18 AM

I would have to honestly say it's November/December: November birthday for little j, Thanksgiving. December has 2 more birthdays; big J and DH, plus both car tags (plus emmissions tests on both), plus HOA dues, Homeowner's insurance, Christmas, etc.

Considering the fact that we have all year to get ready for it, we'd have no excuse to not be prepared.

**forHISglory** · 11-25-2008, 09:29 AM

Winner,
We don't ship gifts, but I do consider all expenses associated with Christmas in my budget. Those expenses for us are not large, but they need to be reckoned with.

**DonnainME** · 11-25-2008, 09:56 AM

I say Nov, Dec, Jan. Anniversary, Christmas, DH Bday, Plane Tickets for children (either Thanksgiving or Christmas depending on year). Summer is a BIG expense too but Dh's income should be better over summer. He gets laid off in Dec and doesn't go back to work until March/April.

He's not working at all this week - so NO $ next Friday.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 11-25-2008, 10:22 AM

We actually have two expensive times of the years. It's August/September and December/January. Those times are mainly due to five birthdays, school shopping for two and Christmas. It's been a whole lot better so far this year than in the past, all because we started budgeting and being smarter with our money.

This holiday season is more about being useful than wasteful. We plan on getting gifts for everyone that they will definitely use, not let sit to the side and collect dust. We also looked at getting clearance items for both boys for school for the next year. We've made drastic changes to our food budget, cut back on overzealous spending, and made sure we didn't go into overdraft. We're even working on getting credit card spending under control.

It's a work in progress, but with November almost finished and our bank accounts in tact, we're doing a whole lot better than the last six years combined.

**Lady_V** · 11-25-2008, 11:15 AM

Ours is December/January and May/June/July (yes, they all start to blur together into one long month)

Dec/Jan -- Yule, My car ins. renews, my birthday (I tell him don't get me anything... but he does)

May/June/July -- DD's b'day & party (her communion & party in 2009), Old Man's car ins renews, fresh fruits, ex's b'day, Old Man's b'day, back to school shopping

If I had to pick just -one- month for 2009... I will have to say May because of the First Communion expenses.

**PurpleSnowflake** · 11-25-2008, 03:57 PM

They all average each other out. And xmas stuff is bought year round, not in December.

So none of the months are worse than the others.

**RaineyDaye** · 11-25-2008, 06:05 PM

January is the most expensive for me. The semi-annual property tax and car insurance are due. It is one of most expensive months for heating the house, and the expenses from Christmas are due (when I used credit cards). How I cope: I put aside money every month for the property tax. I went on the budget plan for heat. I am not using credit cards (much) this Christmas. Every year I cut way back on buying food in January; I usually have plenty of food stockpiled to use up.