by Hope
As any long term BAD reader knows, I love to gamify finances. It keeps me motivated. And this year was no different.
I decided earlier in the year that my Christmas budget would depend wholly on my $5 bill challenge. I’ve been doing this $5 game for several years. And each year has been different. Here’s how I spent them back in 2022.
As we prepared to head to Texas this past week, I broke out my bucket and counted out my stash!
Drumroll please….this year, I have $215 to spend on Christmas.
Making It Stretch
Since I want to make it stretch as far as I can and provide gifts for my parents, siblings, and my kids, I’m going to have to get creative. And frankly, it’s been a long time since I got creative. Time to create my own Santa’s Workshop for the season.
Back in the day, I was an avid scrapbooker, but got rid of my stash a few years ago when I purged most of my homeschool supplies. So I don’t want to break the bank on supplies either.
A few weeks ago, Princess and I attended the local Harvest Fest where creators and crafters display their wares for sale. I was so inspired. And have a few ideas that I think I can pull off well.
Homemade and Personalized
I’m not going to share my ideas here yet as I believe some of my friends and family read here and I don’t want to give it away. But the goal is to create practical gifts that are personalized and don’t break the bank. The supplies I’m thinking are:
- Boxes – shoe boxes, cigar boxes (I recently received 1/2 dozen of these for free from someone who knew my grandfather), small amazon boxes
- Modge Podge – I can get a big bottle for less than $5 at a craft store. I am making a comprehensive list before I go so I don’t go overboard.
- Paint – If I stick to just a couple of colors, I can buy big bottles and hopefully not have much left over that I have to store.
- Clothespins – Great for creating personalize gift holding a picture or notecard. And with a magnet attached, they become handy as chip clips or refrigerator decorations.
- Sharpies – thankfully, I have these in abundance, so no purchase necessary. Great to write on a variety of surfaces.
- Construction paper – I have lots of coloring supplies, books, crayons, pencils, etc. Mounting a colored item on construction paper just ups the presentation a bit. And by coloring or drawing something, it allows me to deliver a very personal message or wish for the person I give it too.
- Magnets – I don’t think a bag of adhesive backed magnets won’t break the bank. And allow me to turn my clothespins into an easy to use display.
I am looking forward to some music filled, candles burning, hot chocolate by my side, in my pjs, craft time at my kitchen table.
The goal is to create gifts for 15+ people with this budget. Challenge accepted!
Pictures to come.
Hope is a creative, solutions-focused business manager helping clients grow their business and work more efficiently by leveraging expertise in project management, digital marketing, & tech solutions. She’s recently become an empty nester as her 5 foster/adoptive kids have spread their wings. She lives with her 3 dogs in a small town in NE Georgia and prefers the mountains to the beaches any day. She struggles with the travel bug and is doing her best to help each of her kids as their finish schooling and become independent (but it’s hard!) She has run her own consulting company for almost twenty years! Hope began sharing her journey with the BAD community in the Spring of 2015 and feels like she has finally in a place to really focus on making wise financial decisions.
Why not spend $25 on Christmas cards and stamps? That way you can send everyone a personal and heartfelt message and best wishes for the holidays. It’s a little ridiculous to spend so much money on craft supplies to make fridge magnets when you are still in debt to your own family.
Use the remaining money to surprise your dad by beginning to repay the debt you owe him. He’s done a lot to support you and deserves a really happy holiday.