elena_398 Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Not sure if others do this, but as a stay at home mom, I actually save money throughout the year just to buy items on BF. I don't like to charge anything so I usually start in January. I save change from purchases, my holiday/birthday money (yes, my grandparents still send money! lol) etc. Today I checked my stash and I have $570 saved so far. My husband wants a 32" flat screened TV for the bedroom so I really have to buckle down and started saving some more. Anyone else save throughout the year? If so, how are you doing on amounts? Scary BF is so close. I just feel I don't have enough saved! I of course will have regular money from our checking for the kids and other family members, but the money I save is for an extra item or two for the family. I was hoping to score a new video camera, but we'll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christib327 Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 I kind of save throughout the year, but I'm not very good at it. I pretty much just save gift cards that I get from MyPoints or surveys. I save cash from surveys too. However, I just started doing surveys a few months ago, so I haven't really earned a whole lot yet. I also get gift cards from one of our credit cards that we earn points on. So far I have just over $530 in gift cards and around $100 in cash. That's really not too bad considering my Christmas shopping was done a couple months ago and everything I buy from here on out is just extras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyntyrose Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 I have some saved and some will come out of our regular budget. I should have around 500 for BF,hoped for more but life interferes with saving money. I am not shopping for electronics more for good toy and clothes deals, so I should have plenty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockfordmom Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Last year I did surveys and got some extra $ for BF, this year I saved gift cards (buy x and get a $5 gift card...) and got rebates in the form of a giftcard for 2 stores and saved return credits from things that I returned to spend on BF. I've been using my Target credit card quite a bit lately (paying it off every month) to accumulate points and earn a 10% off coupon to use on BF like I did last year making the deals even better. I recently did that and earned gift cards using other credit cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchandalisha Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 I put money aside each month into my own bank account for BF. I have about $1900 so far. If I don't use it all for Christmas (I probably won't), I will use it for vacation. I also put aside all gift cards and money that I get for surveys and use it for Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefyAndIansMom Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 As a stay at home mom, i have no money, lol. But a week or two before BF, we cut down on food and items we DON'T have to have and use it all for BF. We live paycheck to paycheck and its been rough just bout every year the kids have been born and since we got together. I only spend bout $300 or so on christmas all together (mayb a little more) and we have 2 kids and 23 people we buy for, mayb a few more this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockfordmom Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 As a stay at home mom, i have no money, lol. But a week or two before BF, we cut down on food and items we DON'T have to have and use it all for BF. We live paycheck to paycheck and its been rough just bout every year the kids have been born and since we got together. I only spend bout $300 or so on christmas all together (mayb a little more) and we have 2 kids and 23 people we buy for, mayb a few more this year.how do you only spend $300 on 25 people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymacfla Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 As a stay at home mom, i have no money, lol. But a week or two before BF, we cut down on food and items we DON'T have to have and use it all for BF. We live paycheck to paycheck and its been rough just bout every year the kids have been born and since we got together. I only spend bout $300 or so on christmas all together (mayb a little more) and we have 2 kids and 23 people we buy for, mayb a few more this year.Wow! $12 on average per person! You really need this site! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefyAndIansMom Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Yep, I spend an average $15 on e1, a little more on the kids. That's all my family spends on us, my mom usually is the one that goes all out on the kids, but she said she aint doing it this year. We spend mayb $150 on our 2 kids, but their still little and they usually get what they want. I get off CHEAP cause I FIND the GOOD DEALS:D. Also, when you have grown up getting off cheap, you usually keep it that way. Now when I get a good career and some income, presents might get a little bigger, I owe it to a lot of ppl, but I'm only 22. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christib327 Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Yep, I spend an average $15 on e1, a little more on the kids. That's all my family spends on us, my mom usually is the one that goes all out on the kids, but she said she aint doing it this year. We spend mayb $150 on our 2 kids, but their still little and they usually get what they want. I get off CHEAP cause I FIND the GOOD DEALS:D. Also, when you have grown up getting off cheap, you usually keep it that way. Now when I get a good career and some income, presents might get a little bigger, I owe it to a lot of ppl, but I'm only 22.Maybe you should suggest pulling names. That way everyone doesn't have to buy for everyone else but everyone gets to open something. That would cut the list you have to buy for down significantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefyAndIansMom Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Maybe you should suggest pulling names. That way everyone doesn't have to buy for everyone else but everyone gets to open something. That would cut the list you have to buy for down significantly.We have bout 5 diff. familys there, 5 diff. places we have to go, SUX i know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christib327 Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Ahhh....not reallly a way to draw names then. Darn. It would be hard having that many people to buy for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefyAndIansMom Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I like to shop though, except when I get down to the men and the hard ones, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellybean051901 Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I have been lucky because we end up with a third pay day in November. I usually use that as my BF spending. I also try to buy a little at a time up until BF. If I find a better sale then I can just return the original item. I get things I don't think will have a huge sale or specialty stores. That leaves less spending for BF since that is when I do most of my shopping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogue1230 Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Not sure if others do this, but as a stay at home mom, I actually save money throughout the year just to buy items on BF. I don't like to charge anything so I usually start in January. I save change from purchases, my holiday/birthday money (yes, my grandparents still send money! lol) etc. Today I checked my stash and I have $570 saved so far. My husband wants a 32" flat screened TV for the bedroom so I really have to buckle down and started saving some more. Anyone else save throughout the year? If so, how are you doing on amounts? Scary BF is so close. I just feel I don't have enough saved! I of course will have regular money from our checking for the kids and other family members, but the money I save is for an extra item or two for the family. I was hoping to score a new video camera, but we'll see.I do sort of the same thing. I think I got the idea from here actually. Thru the year when I break a bill I try not to spend the one dollar bills, at the end of the week they go into a jar along with my change and once a month it goes to the Christmas club at the bank.... I have 650.00 so far.... usually i can weasel another 200.00 from DH when i tell him it is for his side of the family.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogue1230 Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I kind of save throughout the year, but I'm not very good at it. I pretty much just save gift cards that I get from MyPoints or surveys. I save cash from surveys too. However, I just started doing surveys a few months ago, so I haven't really earned a whole lot yet. I also get gift cards from one of our credit cards that we earn points on. So far I have just over $530 in gift cards and around $100 in cash. That's really not too bad considering my Christmas shopping was done a couple months ago and everything I buy from here on out is just extras. My points and surveys???? hmmm i am going to have to check that out..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shopping mom Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I did a Christmas Club this year. I think when I get it I will have $1000.00. I think I pretty much have all the stocking stuffers bought except candy. My problem is I don't know when to buy online items. For example, the Hasbro thread 25% off and free shipping is that a good deal or will something better come along especially on BF. I also change my mind about 20 times about what to get people, especially the kids. I think have to fun for me is the saving, planning and looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elena_398 Posted September 28, 2007 Author Share Posted September 28, 2007 I only have 2 Gift Cards saved. Both are $20 GCs to Walmart. So $40 so far. My husband gets a $100 Gift Card to Walmart at the end of the year, but it misses christmas shopping. I need a little bit more points from My Points to score another Gift Card though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikesgirl Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 i throw all my change into a jar and i save at least $10.00 a week. Last month i just had DH drop it all at the bank till BF.. i would like to know how to get in on all the surveys that would be a great help for next year at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christib327 Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Just go to the surveys forum and all the info you need is in there :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICKEY3601 Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Maybe you should suggest pulling names. That way everyone doesn't have to buy for everyone else but everyone gets to open something. That would cut the list you have to buy for down significantly.Another idea is: pull names for the adults & then everyone buy for the kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmberSatterwhit Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I've noticed a lot of people talking about taking surveys for GCs...where do you find these surveys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10thrash10 Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 I've noticed a lot of people talking about taking surveys for GCs...where do you find these surveys?There is a survey section in the forums. On topic, I never save during the year, I just started saving now, but I will have about $1200 to spend. About $800 of that is for me, they a few bf presents for family and they a few things that are not ever on sale for a couple other people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rae662000 Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 Another stay at home mom here who does survey, credit card points and change jars, but my biggest savings is usually just buying all year long. I have two DD's 7 & 4 so when Disney store clears away toys or Target or elsewhere I buy them up. Same with clothes and shoes, so that when BF comes around I usually scoop up things that are a fanstatic deal and extras (usually electronics). I always finish Christmas shopping in October and look for next year during BF. Most of the money I save is not for BF but for vacation, that is what I love to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rae662000 Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 I did a Christmas Club this year. I think when I get it I will have $1000.00. I think I pretty much have all the stocking stuffers bought except candy. My problem is I don't know when to buy online items. For example, the Hasbro thread 25% off and free shipping is that a good deal or will something better come along especially on BF. I also change my mind about 20 times about what to get people, especially the kids. I think have to fun for me is the saving, planning and looking.This one is a hard one to answer but for some it is a yes and other maybe not. I for example had a $32 voucher for hasbrotoys.com, so for me this was an awesome deal I usually feel anytime you can get a percent off and FS that is worth investigating. Then you have to consider what item are you looking for. Will it still be available for BF? Are there other items you will need that are only available on BF, thereby limiting your timeframe to get the extra stuff? I have found that sometimes the deals in Sept and Oct on toys are just as good as BF especially if you can stack them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia39 Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 My points and surveys???? hmmm i am going to have to check that out.....MyPoints is great. last year i accumulated as many points as possible and used them to get giftcards for members of my team at work for christmas. i rarely sign up for their offers, but just reading their emails and trying out for the surveys they send out do add up. and if you purchase items from their vendors, remember to go through their links for extra points. if you need more info or a referral, PM me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disney8704 Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 Im starting to save up for BF now. I have some money in my paypal account for selling stuff on ebay. I sell recipe eBooks (recipes of food from restraunts) and sell each set for $3.00. I know it may not seem like much, but I've sold tons and tons of copies so it does add up quickly. I sell in each auction 3 copies and once those are gone, then I place up another and continue that cycle over and over. If anyone is interested PM me and I'll show you my auction. Plus I do Paid to read programs. Im hoping to cash out on some of them here soon before BF hits. Im gonna pick up on my surveys again and start getting money for them and also the same with mypoints. Even if I were to get just 1 gift card from my points, a $10 to walmart or kohls, probably kohls, its better then nothing. I also have about $15 reward zone bucks for best buy, could end up getting more since I do plan on buying a few video games here in October and some movies to. So I could end up getting altogether by BF $30 if not more. Plus since DH is on a deployment right now, well we are getting extra money from that, so by the time BF hits just in DH paychecks saving whatever I have left after bills and food, I'll have around $900. So altogether Im looking at about $1000 if not more by BF. And then in December alone I should have around another $400 or more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdanette Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 Starting the week of Thanksgiving until Thanksgiving the next year, I save $20 a week. That gives me $1040 for BF and Christmas. I also do surveys, MyPoints, and the change jar so that adds several hundred more. That money combined with sales and coupon codes puts me in a good position for my shopping. If I can save more, I do but I ALWAYS put that $20 a week up so that at least my kids are taken care of for Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarerice Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 I just use one of my paychecks in Nov. I do change jars, surveys, mypoints, my DH's safety gift card. I start my shopping very early! I have all of DD3 wrapped gifts stashed away already. Thank god for Target! We have 5 nieces and nephews to buy for and those are stashed also. I've picked up a few things for my DS9 for under the tree. I love Amazon's Friday sale! I try not to ask DH for to much money because he always wants to buy me something nice. He goes with me on BF! He wants a gottadeal shirt too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts