Gone to pot over Christmas

hypno06

It is a bit like being on a diet. We can stick to it for most of the time and then Christmas or holiday comes along and we blow it completely.

So what do we do? We step on the scales, get a shock and get straight back to the veg and the salads.

Money issues are just the same - the important thing is that you recognise that you have gone off track. You've had the shock, now get back to the diet! Plan the next week's worth of DFW stuff and look forward to 2007.

If you are aware that Christmas is your overspend time, try and put a little extra away or use the £2 pot or something for next year so that it is not so much of a problem. Going back to the diet thing, it is a bit like losing an extra 5lbs before Christmas so that I can eat it all over the festive season and put it back on again!

(as you can tell, my weight is my "other" issue!)

Good luck, be strong and you CAN do this.

Broken_hearted

We spent £200 we didn't have on a store card card, it was the season to slip up (mainly from alcohol lol) now its the season to pay up:o

easypeasy_2

Thanks everyone. On reflection I don't think we did too badly. Dh and I didn't buy anything for each other and we spent about £100 on the children. The extended family were absolutely brilliant and bought the children extra bits because they know our situation.

I think it is the 'out of control' feeling that I really hate as I was feeling very in control beforehand. It was almost deja vu and reminding me of how we have been for the last 10 years. In that sense it probably is a really good thing and has made me realise how much I have changed in the last couple of months with regards to money.

Have already sorted out a box full of stuff to sell on Ebay, I leave the paypal account that the money goes into and will use this for my son's birthday in March.

I have very high hopes for 2007 in lots of areas of our life, so it's back to the diet !

iceicebaby

Hiya easypeasy

I feel exactly the same, I have had a bank statement and its quite scary. I spent a couple of days beating myself up, but now im determined to get back on track by the end of January.

Toto

I did great in the runup to Christmas, started saving vouchers, all my quidco money ebaying, and taking advantage of the summer sales for gifts all to pay for christmas, so I was really pleased with myself 0 overspend in december. Then on christmas day I blew £200 in the online sales, buying the kids tons of new clothes, and myself a new handbag... hadn't budgeted for a penny of it. So, don't be down on yourself, we all slip up. But we now have 12 whole months to plan and bugdet so we repair the damage from this year and prepare for the next one... because it will come folks.

Luckystepho

Hi Easypeasy sounds as though you are back in control and already back on track- and have the determination to make your 2007 goals a reality!

smilermonkey

Hey, it's just a hiccup to learn from. In the past Christmas has been a frenzy of spending for me. This year I called everyone in the middle of the year and set them a challenge...immediate family had a £10 maximum spend, with extra points earned if a( it came in under budget and b) if it was from a bootfair or charity shop. We had some great presents and it was fun to do. We made good old paper chains together and rather than me taking on all the shopping, we compiled a list and everyone ticked off something to supply. I still spent a little more than other months of course (hey, it IS Christmas!) but I feel so good leading into the new year, wheras before I would be feeling sick with worry.

csarina

I have done it too......so now am going to have to work extra hard to get back to where we should be........my CC was the problem too.....its in the safe box and I have drawn cash for this months shopping, its too easy to overspend when you have a CC in your pocket!!!!!

It will probably take to the end of April to get back on track and I have to save up pocket money for a cheapie holiday we have booked for May. Nothing really left to ebay........a boot sale a possibility in the early spring....a load of rubbish I might be able to seel for a few pence, but them it supprising what people will buy.............