How do you stick to your budget with so many great deals?

[mamat2011]

How do you stick to your budget with so many great deals?

[mamat2011]

when the kiddos were little, I would put their Christmas money into envelopes with their names on them.  Then i would pay for each child's separately and put their receipts in the envelopes.  Now i keep a spread sheet and when the amount equals zero they are done 

[Bopeep]

Very simply:  I don't.  It always turns out at the end of the day that I have spent more than I intended (but not WAAAY over, so I'm usually okay with it ).

Edited October 23, 2015 by Bopeep

[Jen08]

I'm never able to stay on budget. I try to make it equal between my kids but it doesn't always end up like that.  I do try and have atleast the same # of presents for each one.  However, this year my DS is 13 and doesn't want toys like he use to and his list is ALOT shorter but still very expensive, so he may not have as many presents as his 8 year old brother who still likes toys. 

[angelicswtnss]

Budget? What budget! Lol. I usually don't. I don't go too far off budget so I'm ok in the end. Edited October 24, 2015 by angelicswtnss

[hoits2000]

There are no budgets on black friday!!

[tracy0504]

Ummmmm whatever I have managed to save is what get's spent and since pay day is the same week as BF if I need a little extra I have that too...lol...I don't set a budget usually... I go all out for Christmas!!!!

[queenkishaa]

Trying a budget this year, so far so good but I haven't seen the big ads yet.

[delphernina]

I worry less about the budget and more about getting good deals on the things I have to get.

[msomnipotent]

I don't really have a budget, but I might try one this year. We are really trying to save this year. Not that I didn't before. I know about how much I spend per child and how much I want to spend on each item, but I also buy a lot of things we use throughout the year that do not count as Christmas gifts (like appliances, magazines, clothes, etc). It also helps to stick to a list, and if someone doesn't give me their list in time then they wind up with a discounted gift card or lottery tickets. 

[Elmck]

I have to stick pretty close because the extra is just not there. I keep a running list of what I have bought for each person. 3 of the grand kids are done, a few partly done and a couple with nothing..... but I have the money saved for each one. I al..so try to think birthdays while I am looking at the ads but that's a different budget. 

[bribri25]

I've never had a budget.  Just have to decide if it's something I want to get depending on necessity and the value of the deal.

[myboysnme]

Like many posters I don't really have a budget. I wish I did, but most of what I buy I just hope the deal is so good that I can't resist it so it makes it easier to justify the purchase.

[jaymacfla]

There are two things that do not count on Black Friday:

 

1. A Budget

 

2. Calories

[momlori]

I have a Christmas club savings account that rolls over each 11/1.  That is what I have to spend on BF and Christmas.  Still that does not mean I do not go over, but if I do, it is usually a good deal on something for myself or the household that we need or can use soon.  

[conj]

if I think I'd be embarrassed to say I bought that... or paid that.... I don't get it.  Shame is my budget.

[Spotted1]

I don't use credit cards, so what I have saved is what I have to spend and no more.  

[Kanyon71]

We don't really have a budget, we determine about what we want to spend on everyone and use that as a guide. Sometimes it comes out less sometimes it's more.

[fran]

Just pay with cash. 

[jesusluvu]

Pay with cash or have a debit card just for that CHRISTmas account. You can't spend what you don;t have - Thats what I do. I have cash and my card and when they both stop working I go home - LOL

[Khobbs1]

I have a targeted number I like to adhere too, but some gifts are more some are less.  I decide what I want to get or look at getting, if it is in the target range, I'm good.  Always looking for the best deal, this is where GottaDeal helps tremendously.

[1angelnhvn]

I always go over.   

[jewleyp]

 

I always "work" the money before hand to make sure I can get everything that I want.  I have never spent all of the money that I have allotted, so this plan works!

[dgiesb21]

I wish I could say I didn't have a budget, but alas, I have a very tight budget to follow. I am still able to get all my shopping done, thanks to Black Friday.

[cllehto]

I usually spend more than I intended to. But I do pick up some stuff I would have bought later in the year so in the long run I'm saving.

[leefamily23]

We are cash only for the holidays. I'll use my debit card but not actual credit cards. So, while I don't make a budget per se, only have the cash I have in the checking account. We also won't touch savings for gifts either. Edited November 1, 2015 by leefamily23

[barbd02]

I mostly use cash in order to stay on budget.

Hubs is the money man (he knows how much we have to the penny almost 100% of the time!) and we discuss in depth what I want, what I need and what I'd like to get.

 

If I am buying something that costs a lot, I'll use the debit card for it and then cash for everything else.

If I go over by more than $50 or so, I'll text him and say, "So, there was this great deal..." and he responds with "And how much did this great deal cost me?"

 

Typically, due to BF sales and other sales, I'm well UNDER budget overall, so it all works out in the end.