2011 Christmas Fund Challenge

**frugal me** · 01-21-2011, 09:35 AM

I'm starting a christmas fund challenge for my self for 2011.
My goal is to have $600 saved by Dec. 1, 2011.
This will be for the gifts that I don't make, decorations, Xmas dinner and so on. I probably will not spend it all (that's a high amount for us), but want to be really ready next year.

Anyone care to join me?

I've already got $50 to put into my xmas tin to start with.

**thesightofoneself** · 01-21-2011, 09:53 AM

we tend to buy gifts as we find them so it doesnt effect our december budget as much. you have a great idea though with coming up with a christmas fund

i have $50 to my name but i'm in

**mauimagic** · 01-21-2011, 11:16 AM

TSOOS - you crack me up - always enjoy your perspective!!

Frugal me - great idea!!

We always need to come up with about $1000 for travel at the holidays - Christmas and New Years - and I know that's crazy - but that's just for interisland travel!! Bottom line is that it's the only time the whole family is with DMIL - so it's a priority for all of us.

So I'll need to put $25 (roughly) into svings weekly. Am not sure how I'll do it, but I am in!!

**frugal me** · 01-21-2011, 12:10 PM

Glad you ladies have joined me.
I tend to have a better focus on my budgeting goals with some buddies to join me.

I'm going to try to put atleast $20 each week into my xmas tin.

**mauimagic** · 01-23-2011, 02:44 AM

Whew - am glad that I found where this thread was hiding itself - am going to need it more accesible - especially during the next few weeks when our pockets are squeeking!!

I need to do this every Friday - since once a week gets away from my mind too easily. So yesterday I put $25 in an envelope - my first contribution of many!!

**CarolBee** · 01-23-2011, 06:24 AM

I'm in! Thanks for starting this challenge - I just put my first $20 in an envelope this weekend - glad to find this thread! I started my goal small, at $480 ($40/month). We'll see how it goes!

**madhen** · 01-24-2011, 01:28 AM

I'm in. I'll try for $100/month.

**mopples** · 01-24-2011, 05:34 AM

Im also doing a xmas thing. Hubby and I are putting in our silver coins and im depositing them in a xmas club account. So far in the bank we have $55. I have around $27 in coins at home nearly ready to deposit.

**TheRootedNomad** · 01-24-2011, 08:14 AM

I'm in. Every year I say I'm going to do better and the last couple of years have absolutely continued to get worse from my planning/preparing/being frugal prespective. Once upon a time I did phenomenally well with a VERY limited budget. It came down to being prepared. Somewhere I lost that.

I'm going to shoot for $1000 Chrismas budget this year. It won't necessarily be money in an evnvelope that will be spent in Dec. but as I buy/make/stick money up I'll add it to the total.

The $1000 will be my MAX to cover everything food/gifts/extra time off ect. and I will be shooting to keep it MUCH lower.

**frugal me** · 01-24-2011, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by mauimagic

Whew - am glad that I found where this thread was hiding itself - am going to need it more accesible - especially during the next few weeks when our pockets are squeeking!!

I need to do this every Friday - since once a week gets away from my mind too easily. So yesterday I put $25 in an envelope - my first contribution of many!!

I plan on adding to mine on Fridays also. Maybe I can remember that way!

Glad you all have joined us!

**hotprincesscm** · 01-24-2011, 05:49 PM

I'm in....I started mine the week of this past xmas...as soon as I was done shopping for 2010, I started putting in for 2011....It's like any other bill I constantly contribute to the xmas envelope

**frugal me** · 01-26-2011, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by hotprincesscm

I'm in....I started mine the week of this past xmas...as soon as I was done shopping for 2010, I started putting in for 2011....It's like any other bill I constantly contribute to the xmas envelope

I think you have a great point.
Treat it like a bill, it MUST get done.

**chowder** · 01-30-2011, 10:42 AM

I do this every year.I save a toonie a day.I have index cards for each month and when I add each toonie to the bag I mark off a day.This way I know exctly where I am at.I roll these up and take to the bank end of Oct to start spending for Christmas.Nov1 it starts all over again.Best plan I ever came up with.

**madhen** · 01-30-2011, 11:41 AM

Nothing for January, because of unplanned veterinary costs, but I'll try to catch up in Feb. Not sure if I'll make the whole $200 up, because I am also trying to save money for my sister's birthday in March. Ack!!