Lingering Effects of the Holiday Shopping Season
I don’t know about you all but January makes me feel like I have postpartum depression. It’s been nearly 16 years since I’ve delivered a child, but it’s only been three weeks since my purse strings experienced the most traumatic event of the year – holiday shopping.
Now that all gifts have been unwrapped (or returned lol), family has gone home, decorations have been stored away, and everyone is back to the grind at the office, how do you deal with the lingering effects?
I’ll tell you how I’m dealing. It’s the pits and I’m not happy!!
Although I didn’t finance anything with credit card debt, I’m still going through the motions. Being a bad girl, I spent more than I earned in December, so my shopping frenzy threw my budget spend plan out of whack. And from the looks of things, it may be February before things return to normal again. Because of this, I have to delay others things I really want to do. For example:
- I got a new haircut for the New Year and I want my layers highlighted – can’t afford them.
- BabyGirl wants to attend the 2008 Teen Fashion Battle – can’t afford the tix.
- My girlfriend just settled on her first home – can’t afford to congratulate her with a gift.
- My other girlfriend just turned 30 and I’m traveling for her party – can’t afford to buy her a birthday gift.
- My other girlfriends want to hang out and handle grownfolkbidness – can’t afford to buy a decent bottle of wine, a decent restaurant for lunch/dinner, or any other mid-priced event. Only cheap-o activities (read: FREE) for me.
All of this just because I spent nearly $1,000 on gifts last month? Considering everything I have to give up just to get back on track, it makes me wonder if it was really worth it. *sigh* I’m so depressed…
[image credit: bigandtalltshirts.com]
~*~*~*~*~*~
Work to achieve, not to acquire.
And as always, BE FABULOUS!
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to Single Ma’s Fabulous Financials via email or RSS feed so you can receive notifications when I publish new content.
This blog is a personal account of my journey to become Healthy & Wealthy. If you like what you've read, feel free to subscribe via (feed reader) or (email) to follow along.
Oh that sounds so sad. I hope that everything ends up ok. Just remember that cheap doesn’t necessarily mean bad. I get really nice cuts at cheap hairdressers and really tasty meals at the local takeaway.
I know exactly what you’re talking about. I am eating almost every meal at home this month just to get back on track. It actually hurt to pay my credit card bills for last month.
Suggestions:
Highlights : Those cosmetology schools are pretty inexpensive. But knowing even the lil bit I know of you I am guessing that is a no-go. I don’t blame you…..bad highlights are hard to fix and even harder to hide. So you may need to hold off on that for just a couple more weeks.
Teen Fashion Battle: If Baby Girl really trying to go then she needs to organize a team and listen in to the radio station and try to win some tickets. I have tried this before and it has worked. When you got 10 people listening out for you at all times the odds are just on your side.
Gifts: Any gift cards from Xmas that you can use? If not, oh well. Your friends will understand.
Going out: I can’t count the number of times I have splurged on my friends when they were broke. Maybe your friends will do the same.
I could have sworn you had a fun account. If not, maybe you might wanna start one up.
Girl you are a hustlette. I know you can work your magic and work something out. Your aren’t down and out yet.
Teen Fashion Battle: Hmm, this should be on BG’s nickel. A couple of babysitting gigs should cover this easily.
I was just going to say what dimples and beth b did.
I would also like to add, when it comes to the house warmer and the friend birthday – look around your home – especially your photo collections – I bet you can put together a keepsake for your friends. One that would be a treasured memory.
I think we may be living the same life! I feel the exact same way and have been trying to think of random things to do to get me back to where I was before all the Christmas craziness, but nothing has worked out very well so far.
Ah well, at least it’s almost February!
@ all – Thanks for the suggestions, but I can’t implement them. Well, I can but I won’t. I made my bed and now I have to lie in it. These are the consequences for overspending and I have to accept them. No leisure spending until I’m back on track.
i feel your pain. i’m on the ramen diet for a while now, and i increased my xmas fund to $100 a month. none of this for next year!
Heh heh, wait until you see my post about how I got through December fine, but the first WEEK of January wrecked my budget and I’ve already spent more than I’m on track to earn!
And I know the feeling of having to forego good things (gifts for friends, personal pampering, events with and for family and friends) because the money got funny — I’m the QUEEN of missing out on things I’d really rather be doing because I spent on something that, in the end, was not worth it. But you’re on track and you’ll be fabulous.
UMMMMMM lol I guess I can’t count the fabulous lil surprise I got huh.. but I feel you on the pockets feelin LIGHT and ya mood FEELIN BLUE!!!!