The Perfect Christmas Gift For All The Other People.

Like most people, half my Christmas list is for relatives that I'm not extremely close to, but see often enough that I can't exclude. Especially since I know they will get me at least a little something for Christmas. This year, I have already bought books (on clearance) for the little tykes. My mother explicitly stated she didn't want a gift. What to get for her and all the aunts/uncles/cousins/coworkers/bosses that are left over?

While browsing through Craftster, I came across the most amazing idea. I'm going to make coffee mugs filled with home made treats. These include chocolate dipped pretzel sticks with different sprinkles/colored sugar, chocolate dipped spoons (I made these one year actually), and single-serve hot cocoa with marshmellow bags. These will be tossed in cheapie dollar store coffee mugs. I'm hoping to buy as many of these items as possible at the dollar store to really cut down on expenses. If you look at the bottom of the thread, the woman who came up with the idea had even gave an itemized list of her costs. What works out even better is that I can wait to make these until after the quarter ends (early December), when I have plenty of free time.

This has to be one of the most perfect gift ideas for someone with twenty people on their list that they need inexpensive gifts for.

November Goals

1. I'm doing meal planning along with Wooly Woman for the month of November. I've already started writing out lists of possible meal ideas. Fortunately for me, my food costs are cut by the fact that I work in a restaurant and takes some (not all!) of the planning out of meal. Although, figuring out how to take food to school makes it hard.

2. Increase my income 400 dollars over last month by working four days more than I did last month. I definetly didn't work enough this month.

3. Finish Christmas shopping and do it for less than 150 dollars. I already have quite a few gifts for people. I'm hoping to come in under budget.

4. Pay off Old Navy card (roughly 350 dollars). That will bring my debt down to just the Wells Fargo card, which also happens to be my lowest bill.

5. Lose seven pounds by the sixth and fifteen by November 23rd (I started on Oct. 23rd). On a side note for anyone curious, I tend to follow Suzanne Somers. I love her dieting plan; it's ridiculously easy and healthy.

6. Exercise two-three times a week. This will be by FAR the hardest goal. The only way I like exercising is if I'm at a gym. Le sigh. I need to find a motivation for exercising.

7. Find a cheaper cell phone plan. I'm paying eighty five dollars a month right now and I always (without fail) have extra minutes left over that get put in rollover. I have eleven thousand (!!!) rollover minutes. It's ridiculous. Roughly a year ago when I bought the phone, I was more likely to use those sort of minutes. I'm too busy now though.

First Tracking Report

I lied. Only a little though. Obviously the spending for the past few days weren't posted this morning; they are being posted now during a break between classes.

10-01- Monday
3.29 - groceries (tuna, lettuce, bagel, cream cheese) - debit
1.62 - newspaper - cash
1.00 - fee for grocerygame.com - debit
8.90 - stamps - debit
----------------------
Subtotal: -14.81
Tips: +95.00
Total: +80.19


10-02- Tuesday
7.87 - groceries (crystal light, water, snacks for school) - debit
2.26 - fast food on campus- cash
Total: -10.13


10-03- Wednesday
16.65 - dining out (took little sister to lunch) - cash
3.70 - coffee - debit
31.27 - books/Christmas gifts
45.99 - clothes
203.63 - auto insurance
Total: -301.24


Reflection: As I stated in my previous post, I am chronicling my normal spending habits. At the end of the month I will create a budget. Regardless, I still try to save money as that is part of my normal spending habits. For example, the books/Christmas gifts purchased yesterday were a steal. I got 9 books (!) for nearly 32 dollars. Furthermore, those nine books stretched to include eight people. Seven of which aren't receiving any further gifts.

Also, as I've been reading other people's blogs, I noticed that there is quite a bit of mention about auto insurance being cheaper when you pay in full. Out of curiosity, I looked up the fees I am incurring by splitting my six month insurance into four payments. I found that I'm being billed a four dollar fee each time! Oy! That's sixteen dollars in surcharges!