Spending too much on what you earned?

I haven't the experience that I spend more than I earn. Our presents are allways pretty basic and not very expensive, and not many of them either. We do try to put in time and effort to find something that the person in question will really love and appreciate. Christmas time has allways been about being together, sharing a meal, playing games and such things. It does envolve more money than a regular party, but it's managable. We value these things throughout the whole year, but christmas is one of those times that you are reminded to be gratefull for what you have.

hello Fulltank, when you have already a family of your own, you always think about your future and for me during christmas is not exception. i always make a point not to spend more than i have earned. true we have a bonus and the company i am working with usually give every last week of november. i just spend some of it and save most of it. indeed it's just once in a year but future for me is more important.

friend.earning money is to heard but we can spend it with in minutes.I like savings.so what i earn i transfer that money to my bank account and withdraw money which is needed. i not spend more that i earn.i spend only 50 - 60 % of my earnings and remaining i save in my bank account or give in finance

Oh very true. Especially in my experience. Christmas is the most commercially robust time of the year here in the Philippines. I remember during our times of financial hardship before, my mother would even borrow money just so we have something to spend for Christmas. It's wrong really as Christmas should be the time that Christians remember Jesus' birth and his sacrifice for us. Usually this just gets under the shadow of spending and Christmas shopping... I'm not a devout Christian so I don't complain. I'm hoping to exercise restraint over my spending this year though.

We are making money to enjoy in the time of festivals..we must spend som money for chirstmas also to make even our family memebers happy..

i really have a big problem with gift giving, i like to go all out too. but in recent years and especially this year since i am unemployed i thought that i would gift family with iou"s. you know like iou 4 hours of housecleaning, or 8 hours babysitting or 1 hour massage,something along those lines. it doesn't cost anything but your time and some of the things you can come up with i know would be appreciated.besides, its not the gift that counts, its the thought! and i think most of us are shying away from the real reason of Christmas anyway. i think it has become too commercial and todays kids are spoiled about receiving expensive gifts that they see advertized everywhere.

I tend to spend a lot of money at christmas time, because I want to buy nice presents for my family and my friends. Sometimes I make my own presents. I am an artist and a photographer, and sometimes my relatives ask me for a painting or a photo instead of a present from a shop. I have also created other things in the past for instanse homemade calenders etc, and those presents are usually less expensive. Last year my husband and I decided that we were only going to buy some small presents for eachother, because we were saving up for our wedding, and I didn't mind at all, I don't need expensive things. At christmas I try to stick to my budget, but I usually end up spending more than I planned despite the homemade presents etc.

it's not bad spending gifts, parties and dinner for christmas, and it's not bad too if we don't spend on it. it depends upon us, if we can afford spending things then it's okay but if our money just fits for our family's budget then we must stick to the budget that we often have so that we don't end up getting lost.

I feel both excited and nervous of the coming holidays. Excited because, I do love Christmases, it is the most wonderful time for me. Nervous, because like what you have said, I might spend more than what I have. It is at this time that you get to forget the budget that you set for yourself.

Before I read Rich Dad Poor Dad, I am a huge spendthrift but after reading that book, I spend most of my money on investments and savings. Making good money decisions wasn't easy for me at first but when I got used to it, it became a habit for me. I do sometimes fall off the wagon but I get up and try to bring my good money habits back on track. You are right though, Christmas Season is very pricey but my solution for that is to have a budget so that I can keep track of where I spend my money and I also make sure that I stick to my budget. Last Christmas, I did this and I never regretted spending my money because I know that I stuck to my budget. Trust me, a good budget plan is all it takes because If you don't have a plan, you will always think that you still have enough money to spare thus the overspending.

yes, it would be on christmas that our expenses rise. we prepare money for the season to celebrate it with fun and joy. i spend money for gifts to my godchildren and very close relatives. but the bulk of what i earn is spent during the christmas eve where we all dine together. i know money is hard to find and i am making it a point to live within my means. i spend for christmas but not to the extent of going overboard and go out of budget and "suffer" in the next few days.

Christmas, as they say, is really an expensive season. You need to buy and give gifts and be generous. For me, Christmas is not merely the spending of your hard earned money. Sometimes, it is the way of giving a "quality time" to your love ones. Sharing your moments with them, giving your quality conversation, discussions and sharing some thoughts too.

When my children were young I had a Christmas club savings account and would put so much per week in it to use for Christmas. This kept me from overspending. There were a couple of years where I went way over budget, charged on credit cards, but I spent all year paying that back, so now I try to stay within my budget and this year we have all agreed not to exchange gifts, but just get together as a family. As I get older I find that the material things are not so important.