November 2011

[Honeylioness]

dakota4600 - Nov 9, 2011 at 9:42am

QOTW (I hope we haven't done this one already): When do you shop for the holidays? Do you shop all year or do you wait until Black Friday?

COTW: Make sure you have a budget/savings for the upcoming holiday season. If not start planning for next year now.


muttleynfelix - Nov 9, 2011 at 9:52am

QOTW - I try to shop for Christmas starting in November and just get it done when I can. I end up looking in catelogs for ideas for the kids since I don't go shopping that often.

COTW - I have $300 cash saved up. Of course if I end up ordering a bunch of stuff online (which I may end up doing), it might end up biting me in the rear.


sheilaincali - Nov 9, 2011 at 10:22am

QOTW: All DS wants is a laptop for Xmas. Found one on clearance at Walmart for $500 that is actually a decent computer (17 something inch monitor- set up is perfect for his gaming) and we are getting Miss Pants a Wii. So I put them on layaway. Have to have them paid off by the 16th of december. For the other nieces and nephews (yes Pants is way more spoiled then the others) I pick things up during the year.

COTW: I have it planned out to pay $75 a week to get DS' and Pants' layaway paid off. The other kids we have a budget of $25 per kid (have 3 kids I have to buy for) I refuse to go into debt for presents so I have never put anything on a credit card. Normally I wouldn't spend as much as we are for DS but it's honestly the only things he wants for Xmas and has been asking for one for two years.


mittenkitten - Nov 9, 2011 at 10:34am

QOTW: I start shopping for Xmas and birthdays 12/26. Then if I find something throughout the year I purchase it. I HATE giving gifts just for the sake of giving and find this way I can get more meaningful gifts (not always but often).

COTW: I use our grocery money when I do this or money I have received for gifts. So it really doesn't affect the budget much. The kids get so much I give all the things I purchase from Santa. They don't notice the difference. I have a budget of around $20 per person. I just can't do more and sometimes those will be handmade/homemade gifts. This year my dad and his wife are getting the school year pictures as their gifts unless they want to pay for them and then I will have to buy them something. The only reason I would do this is my dad is very materalistic and may have a fit about the pictures being their Xmas present. I will also make gift bags with the stuff I get for free from my couponing. Then I make bags for all of the teachers and staff in the kids lives. Runs to be around 15 people there.


mizbear - Nov 9, 2011 at 2:13pm

QOTW- I usually shop/craft throughout the year. This year I didn't. I haven't felt like it to be honest. I am not in a Christmas mood. And last night put me in less of one. Plus last year I bought one of my nieces a present and she turned her nose up at it, her mother coveted it to the point she put it on display in the living room and I found out the girls broke engraved lockets I gave them. They wonder why I give them presents like laundry baskets full of socks, underwear, and toiletries a lot of times.

COTW- Funny this was the challenge- I was deciding what to do about Christmas. I may just do baked goods for the kids and call it a day. I know ZBear has asked me for a reasonably priced item fom my CH catalog (it's a light up globe with angels inside- think snowglobe with no snow), so I may indulge them. But I don't know. I don't buy video games and the like and that is what TBear really wants. I can't wait to find out who my Secret Santa is so I can start working on that project

Waiting for word on what is going on with DGM, so we will see. You guys are the best!


3catslady - Nov 9, 2011 at 7:39pm

QOTW; I started last year buying gift cards each payday so I have all gifts almost done. Actually I do have all gifts done. The rest of the cards are going for my pleasure, groceries, and whatever gifts I want for me. After making gifts for the ones in my life and having them given to the dogs or thrown out because a seam ripped an inch or for what ever reason thrown in the garbage, I refuse to give anything but a gift card to members of DS's family. I have made things for others and they are using them all the time. Even my GF uses my dishcloths along with the ones that she makes.

COTW; With the rest of the gift cards, I will buy my groceries and use my paychecks to pay some bills off and down. I am going to start buying the cards again because I will have almost $1000 to buy my stuff next year. I think I am going to buy a gas card
once a month which will give me $120 for gas in December '12. Maybe I can go see people then, rather than stay at home.


moneysquirrel - Nov 9, 2011 at 10:02pm

QOTW -- Most of the shopping is done in November/December. Since I have a small list and several are of the gift card type there is not a lot of stress. Many of my female family/friends will get a moneysquirrel original jewelry set. Whenever I can I do try to find meaningful gifts throughout the year to avoid the gift card idea.

COTW-- I try to set aside a set amount of money each month for gifts/Christmas. This will take care of birthdays, weddings, baby gifts as well as Christmas.


redwagon - Nov 10, 2011 at 12:07pm

QOTW: If I have an idea I'll buy something, but I generally do it around now. Not necessarily Black Friday though - too much insanity for me. And lately I've been doing a lot of gift certificates for experiences rather than physical gifts, which seem to go over well. SIL and BIL and the kiddies are finally doing their family photo shoot with our wedding photographer this weekend, that we got them last year. So psyched to see how they come out! Absolutely love our photog. My kids are going to be photographed by her from newborns, methinks.

COTW: it's coming out of our Nov28th paychecks! I'm pretty psyched that blue_wagon's family is changing things up. Two years ago all the cousins got each other gifts (and it's a LOT of cousins). Last year we did secret santa. And this year we're doing "hugs and I love you"s which is very free. Still going to bake for his aunts and uncles, but this will save lots of moola.


Honeylioness - Nov 10, 2011 at 5:31pm

COTW: I am one of those that "shops" year round for Christmas and birthdays. When I run across something either at a store, bazaar, estate sale etc. that I think a specific person would like I snap it up then. I have a large plastic tub in the extra closet in my guest room where these items all go until the occasion comes up. These items are in addition to the various things I make to use as part of my holiday gift giving.

Having looked at hard numbers a few years ago I find that my per person spending is low and I don't ever again want to be one of those who dread receiving their January bills.


QOTW: I am going to be looking at some real figures next week to account for shipping items to my former students (NOT including this year's kids or their family of course). As my family and friends know about my situation no one is expecting anything extravagant from me this year.

[Honeylioness]

Honeylioness - 25 Nov 2011 at 1:10am


UPDATE


22 NEO
18 NSD/CSD


Hello everyone. I know I have been MIA for the last couple of weeks - things have been really strange for me lately and I didn't want to dump all my angst onto the boards and derail the thread.

Anyways, I have a posting on my board for those interested at:

honeylioness.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=thoughts&thread=240&page=1


I do have two finance related events to report:

A. I had been to the grocery store last week, and as usual I keep a running total in my head as to how much the final bill should be. However when the cashier - who was In Training- hit the total button I thought the amount was a bit too high.

When I got home and took a long look at the receipt, and was unpacking the bags, I ran into several problems. I got charged for a few items twice, charged for an item I never purchased, and the cashier never scanned the in store coupons on two packages of meat I had purchased.

I went back the next day, with the receipt and coupons, and I received an apology and almost $25 that I had been overcharged.

B. Last week I stopped on the way home from my job
counseling appointment for a little of what my friend calls "Retail Therapy".

I purchased:

* 7 new everyday dinner plates in heavy white china with a base relief design around the rim.
* An olive green cable knit cardigan.
* Five long sleeve dress shirts.
* A full length red wool winter coat.
* A full length camel wool winter coat.

And for all this I paid ...... about $43



QOTW: What do you need to do to end 2011 on a good financial note?


1) Well getting my unemployment checks to start arriving would be nice.

2) Call a former employer (the company was recently sold) and see if I can cash out my pension now instead of waiting until I am 55. I would rather roll the money into mt own account. Because if I would happen to die before I collect it my estate doesn't get any of it.

3) And being compulsive I want to do another work up of my unemployment budget. Of course, I will need to KNOW what my UI benefits will be. See Item 1.


COTW: Do whatever it is you noted in your question! We may still have several weeks left of this year but it's never to early to get a jump start on your planning for 2012.


1) In talking to my former boss last week about an unrelated issue, I asked if they had had a chance to complete and submit my UI paperwork back to the State.

Seems they sat on Joyce's desk for almost two weeks because she was so overwhelmed with other things - but she had sent it to Corporate to complete with a note not to contest. The irony here is that I used to be the one who completed these forms and had them sign them. Which they could have done .. IF either one knew HOW to look that information up in the computer!!

AARRGGHHHHHH.

2&3) I will look at next week when I can call people.

4) I will complete the paperwork for COBRA insurance and get it mailed this week so I can continue my health insurance.


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spruby - 26 Nov 2011 at 9:55am

Honey -

A couple of things - good job on the retail therapy - especially TWO coats - wow - they both sound lovely!

Second - something doesn't sound right on your old pension. If it is a defined contribution plan you should be able to roll the money into an IRA w/o a problem. Withdrawing it will trigger taxes (You may know all this - it is my standard pension speech). Either way the money is yours, you can name a direct beneficiary or have it flow to your estate. If it is a defined benefit plan - things get trickier on cash outs (rules on age, lumps sumps, etc). You will likely not be able to roll it directly to an IRA - you would need to take a tax hit. But - most importantly - this is *your* benefit - unless the plan has a weird provision - you should be able to name a beneficiary in case you die before you become eligible to get the benefit since you have already earned the benefit. Pensions are the area I'm in (although from a very weird angle) but I do have access to the experts. If it is a defined benefit plan I am happy to ask one of our lawyers and/or actuaries to confirm what I just said (or look at a plan document if you have one - (and you should).

I read your update - brings back painful memories for me. All I have are kind words:
1) you are an amazing and talented person,
2) a job search is less about you than you and more about what others think they want/need - so it isn't a reflection on you;
3) routines are great - but hard to stick to on your own - I found it helped to schedule outside meetings/activities with others
4) watch - or ask a very trusted friend to -watch for signs of depression. It is very common and understandable - but if it settles in for a long stay - you may want to get some help.

BTW - how did it end with your students? Did they end up in new families or get sent home? Just curious!

[Honeylioness]

reeneejune - 26 Nov 2011 at 2:40am


uck. I survived Black Friday. It wasn't pretty. The line went from the counter to the back of the store immediately after we opened at 6am, and didn't get any shorter until about 7pm. I arrived at noon, took over for someone to get a lunch break, and didn't move from that spot for 4 hours. I'm currently trying to decide whether I want to drag myself back down stairs to make some soup (I am hungry, but I'm also in quite a bit of pain).

Some notes on holiday shopping:

1) Figure out what you want before you get to the counter. Because the 15 people in line behind you are glaring at me like it's my fault when you stand there dithering.

2) No one under the age of 18 needs to come with you to the store on a major sale day. Leave them home with Daddy watching football. Hire a sitter. Just don't bring them to the store.

3) Don't set your toddler on my workspace. Really. Not only are they in the way and making a mess, but I'm already exposed to PLENTY of nasty germs working in retail, I don't need toddler butt germs added to the mix.

4) If you're sick stay home. Because when you come in, I catch what you've got, but I don't get the option to stay home. So I have to come in and spread the germs to everyone else, be miserable, and stay sick a week longer because I don't get the rest I need to get over it.

5) I get that you're a crotchety old witch. Or a crotchety young witch. whatever. If you're crabby, don't go shopping. Save it for when you're not ready to scream at anyone who breathes in your general direction.

Oh, and I discovered that Black Friday + PMS = extremely b*tchy reenee. And by that I mean that I almost said all of the above. More than once.

Soup is winning over no soup, so I'm going to go now.