Could You Spare Some Change?

As if this time of year isn't stressful enough on the finances, it's the extra expenses that really send us into the red. I mean, I literally start Christmas shopping for next year on December 26, and when I find great things on clearance through the year I stock up. This makes for an easier budget in November and December. And I try to make as much as I possibly can and get away with. This helps as well.

But we're talking things other than gifts. Like the after-Christmas sales. I cannot believe that stores do not open at 5 AM like on Black Friday. The sales are much better and it's truly cut-throat. My BIL said he almost got attacked by wild women by just daring to look into the Christmas aisles this week. I ventured out, as any die-hard shopper would. Plus I needed those fake trees. Yes, I said that right. I needed them. It'll save me tons of money in the future. And I got wrapping paper and big shiny balls for the tree and even a tree bag to store my fake tree in. But I did not get ornament hooks and may be forced to pay full price for them next year. Drat.

And then my sister has her birthday on Monday. She'll be 40 this year. I cannot let that slide. I have to throw her a big old-fashioned lets laugh at the old fart party. (And seriousy hope that she forgets about it in a few years when my turn comes around.) But she has some kind of nerve to have her birthday right after Christmas like that. That's one huge expense right there.

And with the kids off school it's a wonderful time to go through all their things. Clothing included. You know why I never go hog wild buying school clothes? Because here it is, in December, and they're outgrown too many of their jeans. Capris on boys are not cool, so they're telling me. So I had to go out and buy new jeans for the boy, and the girl. Thank goodness for thrift stores. Being a mom of 4, I learned long ago that sometimes I have to swallow my pride and just shop cheap. Oh, who am I kidding? I've always been a thrift shop junkie. But let me tell you what I got. The boy got 2 pair of American Eagle jeans, 1 pair of Levi's, 1 pair of Wranglers (because they were still sporting tags), and a pair of Old Navy jeans. I got myself two pair of Gap jeans for good measure. And because it was 50% off all clothing day my total bill was $12.44. Can you say Good Deal?! I didn't do so well for my daughter. I got her a pair of jeans from Express and a pair from Abercrombie for $12. But hey, it's still cheap. And it all still adds up to more money spent at the holiday.

And then there are the dogs. Who ever thought it would be a good idea to renew license at the first of the year? Why can't they go by a fiscal year or something? How about every Groundhog Day they should renew? Because let me tell you, $8 per dog adds up in a hurry when you've got 9 dogs that need a license. (One of them was chosen and has a lifetime license, therefore we don't have to purchase him a new one every year. We did, however, have to pay hefty for that, and pay again to have it tattooed onto his hip, and pay yet again to have it registered with both the state and the AKC.) Whoever thought it would be a grand idea to have a kennel? That person ought to have her head examined.