When do you realize the Holiday season is starting?

**steelergal** · 11-20-2011, 08:37 PM

Does anything always seem to happen to you around the starts of the Holiday season that makes you realize... Of course this is happening it's the Holiday Season! Oh, and I am using the "term" Holiday Season because stuff always happens right before Thanksgiving!

It started last week for us! I got the tax reminder bills (DH is in charge of paying that bill- 1 bill a year he is to take care of!), so there is an "unexpected bill" that reared it's ugly head- I know it should not be unexpected but I thought DH paid it, questioned him on it and he did not. The window in our "new" car had been acting up, had no problem going down but as soon as you wanted it to go up, it would give you a hard time and we had to buy a new switch for it because it's the time of the year you DON'T want to have your window stuck down! Of course, there was several bills that needed to be paid this week, I paid them, DH had another unplanned expense, and of course this was after I placed a bid on a few Christmas items for the youngest that I figured i would not get these items for a steal, well the nice thing is I got a few NIB items for a steal, that I had to pay for (praying a few bills don't clear until after I deposit DH's paycheck tomorrow!). The final straw was when I sat down to figure the bill/pay cycle, what I thought would be an easy week the last week of November- nope! I have to split the last month's pay with lot rent because the first week of Decembers pay will be going to car insurance, cable, electric. UGH!

So now I realize "It's the most wonderful time of the year!". Although I do love the true meaning of CHRISTmas, this time of the year always seems to be a struggle, now matter "how good of shape" I feel that we are in!

**Momto5RN** · 11-20-2011, 08:51 PM

we always have alot of unexpected issues come up late october but mainly november .

cars break downs or need new brakes or tires car accidents- i get sick and miss work ( and i get no sick pay ) kids are sick so i miss work ( i get no paid time off) - heavy rains = basement floods = loss of some pantry - or a more $$ item breaks like washer dryer - once it was a escaped hamster crawled into vents ran down thru near the heater and couldnt get back out !!

but this is why i shop year round.. save all gift cert i earn during the year etc for holidays . I can only control what i can control

**steelergal** · 11-21-2011, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by Momto5RN

but this is why i shop year round.. save all gift cert i earn during the year etc for holidays . I can only control what i can control

Same here! I could not imagine trying to buy everything for Christmas right now with all this stuff going on! One year I had to wait til last minute to shop for Christmas and after that NEVER again! I just know there is a few more things I need to get, I just will concentrate on what I have now to stretch out these last few pays before Christmas!

**Labontet** · 11-21-2011, 08:00 AM

When the Christmas shows start to come on TV.

**frugalwarrior2** · 11-21-2011, 08:49 AM

October begins it
Parents anniversary,2 kids bday,sweetest day,then Halloween begin the mudslide towards xmas
Nov.
We winterize,fix up cars,pay ins,tuition,have thanksgiving,gift shop begins online only
Dec
Go cut the tree,wrap,clean,wish for more time,bake a little,celebrate
Take down the stuff and tax gather receipts
We get a pizza for New years and start again.

**ohio47** · 11-21-2011, 09:02 AM

Steelergal, do you live anywhere near Pittsburgh?

**Momto5RN** · 11-21-2011, 12:11 PM

apparently its an inherited issue lol ds 23 just had to pay 800 in car repairs. i reminded him he has a fully paid for for 4 yo car and that is = to 2 payments of a new car so still a deal !

**steelergal** · 11-21-2011, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by ohio47

Steelergal, do you live anywhere near Pittsburgh?

Yes, I most certainly do!

**Trishagirl** · 11-21-2011, 02:04 PM

Our town has it's annual christmas tree lighting it was last Sat!

**ohio47** · 11-21-2011, 06:50 PM

I am from Kittanning. Steelergal. Do you know where that is?

**steelergal** · 11-21-2011, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by ohio47

I am from Kittanning. Steelergal. Do you know where that is?

Yes I do!! I live in Cranberry Township area.

My girlfriends parents used to own a camp right along the river in Kittanning (well on the hillside opposite of the road along the river)! That is where we had our "close encounter" with a black bear swimming in the river while the kids were splashing around in it! All I can say is "yikes"!

**sinopa27** · 11-22-2011, 12:35 AM

it is Christmas in the ER when we start getting some sweet treats and pizza every night

**shoiji** · 11-22-2011, 05:18 PM

When it is around Halloween and the Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations start showing up in the stores.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 11-22-2011, 05:22 PM

I absolutely refuse to acknowledge Christmas until the first official snowstorm of the season. For us, that was this past Thursday. But now, I'm in a mad rush trying to find items that are hard-to-find for the kids because we all agreed to tone down Christmas for the adults this year.

**jacqueline** · 11-22-2011, 05:26 PM

i know you will laugh....
but seriously - when i hear that funny song "the 30 point buck" for the first time.
i heard it last week and i just felt- okay, here comes hunting season and Thanksgiving and cold weather and Christmas - the holidays are here.