my husband and i are trying 2 stick with a budget but it is hard due to the holidays we have a 4 yr girl?

Answer 1

Ive been in your situation and my advice is to blow the budget and start fresh in 08,christmas is a hard time for familys, trying to maintain a budget will only add to your stress.

Answer 2

It's hard. but try to decide before you head to the store what you will buy and your maximum amount you will spend.

Then leave the credit cards home and shop with cash.

When you are out of cash, you are done shopping.

Don't spend the next 5 months in financial stress because you over-spent on upgraded presents that will soon be forgotten.

What kids want the most is to have loving, focused time with their parents.

Take your child to do something as a gift- the memory created will last longer than any toy.

We have a great free personal finance and budgeting course on our site:

http://www.financialfreedomtrail.com/money_management_advice.html

Put together by one of the leading financial freedom experts, Dave Briggs.

You'll have a better holiday season and new year if you don't opverspend now.

Answer 3

I know sticking to a budget is hard. The trick to surviving the holidays when expenses rise is to plan ahead by saving little by little in the months leading up to Christmas. If you haven't saved to cover the additional expenses, then it's simple: you simply cannot afford to buy everything you want. I know it sucks but it's better than going into debt. Believe me, at age 4, she won't even REMEMBER the toys you give her anyway. All she'll remember is being loved. Kids love experiences more than toys....they make more of an imprint on their memory. Think about it. Most kids play with a toy for maybe a week and then it's old news. So, why stress yourself out and put your family finances in crisis over a few toys that she won't even remember or play with in a week or a month?

Answer 4

Stick to your budget - then you can have a better year in 2008 if you're not in debt. My 4 year old is happy with any small gift. Buy stuff from the dollar store...and you know what I did once? I bought my son a Thomas the Train table using spare change I collected in a jar. Really, I had like $200 in there, so when I splurged on the table, it didn't come out of my budget. It almost felt free...

Answer 5

Well coming from the same predicament...here is what we have discovered. 4 yr. olds are impressed with the smallest things. If you went to dollar general or got a ton of little cheap items and perhaps 3 big 20 dollar items, you would still save big time, but still have a big presentation on Christmas morning. Also, its good to teach her that Christmas is not all about what you receive, it is more towards celebrating a day our Lord and Savior was born and the sacrifices he gave in his life so that we may be saved. As they say, its the reason for the season.

Answer 6

You can still budget with the holidays coming up.

You don't have to get your daughter expensive gifts.

Just get her what will make her happy and something that is affordable. She won't know how much the gifts are worth. Anything is great for little kids.

I bought 3 gifts for my nephews and niece for under $20 (all 3 gifts).

Happy Holidays!

Answer 7

Four year olds are VERY easy to please. Stick to your budget, you'll be happy you did come December 26th. Living debt free in a loving supportive household is the best gift you can give a child!

Answer 8

if u r tryin to work wit a budget u need a saving part to the budget the savings will help alot me & my wife had been on a budget for 2yrs & our savigs help with birthdays & other special ocasions

Answer 9

I have 4 year old. He is just as excited by the box as he is by the toy it came in.

Don't worry. You can make his Christmas special simply with love and cardboard.

Good luck.

Answer 10

What's your questions?