Posting about only 28 shopping days until Christmas brings up an ugly topic at our house this year - the Christmas budget. Steve doesn’t like to talk about a budget for Christmas - he prefers to speak only in general terms about how much we might spend this holiday season.
In my experience, no budget = uncontrolled spending. No budget makes it nearly impossible to reign in Steve’s impulsive generosity, ”I know its expensive but just think how much (fill in name here) would love it!”
Its been quite a few years since we’ve really had to think about our spending habits. Most of the year we live pretty frugally and that allows us to splurge a bit on gifts. But, since we’re not banking my entire salary anymore, this year we need a budget.
This is sad news for the children. Clearly, we’ve failed in teaching them the real deal about fiscal responsibility. The kids seem to believe in the “if you have it, spend it” approach to financial planning. Saving is only for short term goals like the latest CD or a trip to Paris. Future needs like retirement are too far down the road to be important to them.
I should have gotten them one of these piggy banks…
Truthfully, I’m not thinking about retirement either. We’re still saving for that. And we’re not living hand-to-mouth or even paycheck-to-paycheck. But my more immediate goal is that cute little dream house in a few years. And the only way we’re going to get it on our terms is if we’re a little more careful with our spending or I get a new job.
So for now, everyone is just going to have to get used to hearing the “B” word around here.
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