Just a note to myself of my 2007 Christmas Total, so I can take these off my side bar.

Christmas 2007: $1408
Christmas 2006: $1285
Christmas 2005: $1425
Christmas 2004: $2400

Spent $9.20 on participating items and the stamp to mail in my rebate and recieved 4 - $25.00 gift certificates to a full-line spa.

Got a Coach I-Pod Shuffle Case with the tags still on it from E-bay. Originally $68.00, total for me $7.98. So cute. My daughter is going to love this.

Clothes for my oldest son, on sale, totalling $21.00 and a pair of Vintage Vans Shoes from e-bay for $19.95. These are way cool. I missed out on another pair cause I wasn't home to bid on it.

Large Box of Dale and Thomas Popcorn for $8.00 shipped.

This is just the tip of the ice berg. I am having so much fun getting awesome gifts and saving money at the same time. Let's see if I can beat last year's total for Christmas and still have a great year.

I do have some large totals coming up to purchase, but hopefully, I will find codes for $$$ off, free shipping and I am using all my coupons.

Merry Christmas and Happy No New Debt Year

Two of my Christmas Shopping deals of the week.

Victorias Secret.com. I bought a sweater on sale, and got a hat, scarf, gloves, lip gloss and another makeup item (can't remember)for free. Total cost of my order was $21.15, using different codes.

And, I just got a MP3 player for $27.98, shipped. Here is the link. http://www.graveyardmall.com/. It should be the deal of the day.

I have also clipped all my coupons and combined them with the sales for an eventful run-around spending, but actually savings day. My shopping will take place at Walgreens, CVS, Rite-aid, Meijers and Kroger. I will post how much I spent and how much I saved.

So, I went to Walgreens today because they have a promotion. When you purchase Wyeth participating products at Walgreens this month and send in your rebate form, you earn spa rewards. If you purchase two participating products, you earn $50 in spa rewards. If you purchase 4 participating products, you earn $100 in spa rewards. Well, I went online first and printed out 4 coupons for the Advil and bought the lowest price Advil I could find, totally $8.79 and now I get a $100 spa gift certificate for a really nice spa in our hometown. You can go online to check it out.
http://www.walgreenssparewards.com/how_it_works.cfm

This is going to be a nice gift for someone on my Christmas List.

So I said to my oldest child - the Musician. "Hey, I would like to get your younger brother a drum set for Christmas". Boy, was he on that like you know what.

So, he calls today to say, I found a drum set, I need money. Oh crap, cause the money I have was supposed to go towards debt, yet I need to buy Christmas gifts also. And, if I start now, it will definately be a cash Christmas.

So, I went to the Bank and got him the money. Guess I am starting my Christmas shopping early; and I will still have the money for my debt in a couple more days when I get paid from the Beach job.

Christmas 2004 - $2400
Christmas 2005 - $1425
Christmas 2006 - $1285

This is so I can remember. I did have it listed to the right under Author Info in my blog, but I am using that area for my Investments.

I am becoming an Investor. That is my new title. When someone says "What do you do for a Living" I will say: "I am an Investor, Bargain and Treasure Hunter"

I hope I can make a living off of it.

Now that Christmas and birthdays are over, I am sitting down with my children to go over the budget. One of my goals/resolutions is to be mostly debt free by the beginning of November 2007. The first five items listed under my Debt column should be paid off by then.

So, everybody pretty much got what they wanted, but then there wasn't a lot that anyone wanted. My children are very practical and don't ask for a lot of hyped up stuff. It was actually hard to shop this year.

I only got one gift certificate and some really nice presents. A $30.00 gift certificate to Alexander's Car Wash (I love this. I can't wait to get my car cleaned inside and out).

My returns:

K-mart - no receipt so I got a gift card for $12.27. Spent it on necessities.

Meijer - w/receipt. Got $16.97 back.

World Market - no receipt. Got a $9.97 gift card.

Kohl's - w/receipt. Got $79.50 back.

Totalling $118.71.

I also got a raise of $94.00 more a month or $1,128.00 a year.

I am going to list my new budget campaign real soon. Exciting.

My oldest son, Jonathan (21), never has any money. He is still in college getting his Associates in Music. He already has a degree in Digital Engineering. As you can tell, music is his life, but, that is why he has no money. He can't stay off of Craigs List or Ebay and keeps buying musical instruments and recording stuff.

He is always calling me asking if I want to make $100. In order for me to make $100, I have to lend him money first, then he will re-sell an item and pay me back with an extra whatever the item can make. But, once he gets the item, he likes it so much, he never re-sells it.

I am very supportive of his music career and believe one day, he will make it big. His band has won two battle of the band contests, a recording contract and his voice has won many regional contests and taken him to states. That said, here is my idea for his Christmas Gift.

I usually spend around $400.00 on him. I am going to purchase certain gifts and wrap them in a layered manner in the order below, with a note attached to each layer.

First Layer: Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens: The Secrets About Money--That You Don't Learn in School; and

Second Layer: The DVD set of Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not, both by by Robert T. Kiyosaki.

They both cover different areas of finance. The second one I have listened to in my car, and it is awesome.

Read the first one first, then listen to the DVD's in your car while delivering pizzas.

The Third layer/item is a $100.00 bill; and the

Fourth layer/item will be an ING account, which I will open with the minimum $250.00, so he will get the $25.00 bonus and I will get the $10.00 bonus. I am also going to fund $25.00/month for the next year, which also goes towards his gift for next year.

Then, I will ask his dad to get him a digital camera or gift certificate from Circuit City for a digital camera, so that he can take pictures of his items to re-sell without having to borrow one from somebody.

The idea is for him to gain knowledge, other than music in college, from the book and DVD's, use the $100 for his investments, books, etc., get him to help fund his ING account and use his digital camera to get items listed to make some money and add to his savings. Otherwise, he is going to need Music Anonymous or an Intervention, and I am not kidding.

I hope he likes it.

Love Mom.

Two years ago, I spent roughly around $2,500.00 on Christmas for all those on my Christmas List.

Last year, I spent $1,425.00. That was over $1,000 saved from the previous year.

So far this year, I have spent around $200.00, and that has pretty much been for all extended family members. I actually think I am done with extended family buying. Just maybe a bottle of wine or two. My goal is to come in under $1,500.00 this year.

As my kids get older, 12, 15 and 21, their Christmas List gets more expensive. The only difference is I have less people to buy for this year, so I am hoping for a Quality Christmas on less money. Cause my budget can't afford an expensive one.

My husband and I have decided not to exchange expensive gifts this year. There is nothing we need or want. We will do something small for each other that will hold just as many memories.

Holiday Tip. I am taking all of my old Christmas Cards that I have received in the past and using my scrapbooking cutter to cut the picture part to 6"x4" sizes and turning them into postcards. That way it only cost me 24 cents instead of 39 cents to send out Christmas Cards.

Happy Holidays