Despite the 60 degree weather and the the decidedly un-Christmassy feelings it inspires, I have begun, in earnest, the purchase of this year's Christmas booty. And this year, I'm doing it with a budget, which is serving no purpose whatsoever other than
a) to give me a reason to write in my new "I Heart AU" notebook and
b) to drive me absolutely insane.
But my Real Simple magazine said that using a budget was the best way to shop for Christmas without going broke, so I'm going for it. This is in stark contrast to last year, in which the theme was Buy Everything, No Matter How Much People Will Scorn Its Lameness, So That a Large Portion of the Presents Under the Tree Are From You, Even If They Suck. This was both expensive and unfulfilling, mainly because the vast majority of Christmas 2005 presents with "Kim" on the "from" line are now defunct, if ever opened at all.
That strategy itself was a large revolt against my previous previous shopping plan, which was Be Cheap and Blame It On Being Poor. Which I actually was poor, but, coming from a family with very generous relatives, I felt downright chintzy. So now that I have a real job (sorry, Day Spa!), I feel it is my duty to buy the very best. Or at least, to buy something that isn't from the Mikasa outlet at the Aurora Farms. (Or, I shudder to mention, from The Paper Factory, where the majority of Christmas 2002 was born.)
So far, the budget is going well, even if it is frustrating (I have a ledger AND charts explaining who got what gift and how much it cost). In another very un-Kimmish move, I have completed at least half my shopping in just the last two days, using nothing but the Internet (and, in future days, the friendly nature of my office's front desk receptionist, who will be thoughtfully receiving my packages for me, as I fear that whoever broke into my house this summer will be lurking around to swipe whatever the hapless delivery guy may leave on my porch). I'm kind of bummed that it's looking like I'm going to miss out on the Mall Experience, but at the same time, how can you not like something that involves Super Saver Shipping?
5 pipers piping:
What is really scary is that I have all my Christmas shopping done, my tree is up and decorated, lights outside are up, all decorations are up and it's not even flippin' December. My excuse - I'm leaving for South America for two weeks! Yeah...
Needless to say, I'm slightly miffed that there were never any presents from Kim sitting under my Xmas tree last year...sniff, sniff...
I heart Super Saver Shipping.
But, um, is shopping at the Mikasa Outlet dorky?
No worries, Mikasa outlet is not dorky. There's ANOTHER outlet that they used to have at our outlet mall-- I think Lennox? Or one of the porcelain places, but everything cost like $3? So every year my aunts got porcelain plates with pictures of deer inexpertly painted on them? So when I say Mikasa, that's the store I really mean, but can't remember the name of. It's sort of "felt truth," if you will.
HT, is that you? Are you commenting on my blog? That's Christmas present enough for me!
Real Simple even has a free downloadable worksheet to help you out:
www.realsimple.com/holidaybudget
or they've got a great Gift Organizer available at Target.
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