Hey everyone! How are you guys doing? How is your Humpday? Mine is going by fast!!! Have I been saying that a lot lately? I think so!
Lunch today was a cup of spicy Blackbean Soup, with a serving of Kashi crackers, Laughing Cow cheese and some raw veggies (celery, tomatoes, red bell peppers and cucumbers).
Filling and healthy!!!!
During my lunch break, I headed out to the Downtown area (right down the street from my office) with three goals in mind:
- Get a shower gift (can’t say what kind or who is is for…secret).
- Get two Yankee Swap Gifts – one from me and one from Adam. We are participating in a Yankee Swap Friday Night.
- Stick to my budget
As you guys know, sticking to my budget this holiday season is one of my December Goals.
I set a $60 budget for the shower gift and a $10 each budget for each Yankee Swap gift.
For the shower gift, what I actually wanted to get was going to be $80, but it was on sale!!!! So, that came out to $60, but to have a little more money, I located a 25% off coupon and ended up spending $58!!!! Success!!!
For the Yankee swap gifts, it was not the simple. I decided to go to TJ Maxx because I feel like their Home section always has fun stuff, and it is close to my office. When I first walked in, I found these:
Of course my initial thought was, I WANT THESE…HOLY YUM! But, as you recall, not spending any money on myself unless it is a necessity is another one of my December Goals. So I though, well, if I want them then I bet other people would feel the same way. So I grabbed them as a Yankee Swap Gift. they were $6.99. So I wanted to find something else small to go with them. I looked and looked and found some stuff that would work, but did not fit into my $10 budget. Finally, I came across the espresso dark chocolates for $2.99!!!
Perfect!!!! One present down, one to go!
Next, I came across this painted wine glass:
It cracked me up and reminded me of myself! I checked it out, it was on sale for $5.99!!! Next, I needed a little something else to go with it!! So I shopped around, again finding stuff that was not in the budget 
Finally, I came across this ornament.
I remembered, in the past few years the Sex and the City stuff was really big at this particular Yankee Swap! Plus, it sort of goes with the girly wine glass, right? I looked at the price…$2.99!!
So, all in all I stayed under budget by $2.02 and that included tax!!!
Lesson Learned: With a little extra work (looking for better deals and coupons) and a lot of will power…I can stick to a budget!!!! YAY!
Well, I am out of here in a few, so I will see you guys later tonight! Have a good one!
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Congrats!! I love TJ Maxx for gifts!
I love TJ’s too!!! They are the best!
Wow, GREAT job sticking to your budget…even coming in under! I made a budget for Christmas but it’s soooo hard to stick to it. Even harder not to shop for myself.
Still jealous of your i-phone! My boyfriend is obsessed with his.
nice finds! great budgeting too! I always tend to spend too much on people for Christmas gifts. I have to write myself a budget and stick to it!
those chocolate spoons look awesome!!! i’d want those too.
Right? UM, yum!!! I hope I get them back
Where did you get your soup mug? I have looked all over for one I love it.
I got it at the Christmas Tree Shop a few years ago. I love it! I keep it in my desk draw at work
ooohhhh- love that ornament! I think I know what I’m getting a couple of my fav girls for Christmas now!