Christmas Gifts

I still have a lot of shopping left to do! Why did I procrastinate this year??

D and I both have two days off this week so hopefully we can do some shopping together then. Especially shopping for parents and siblings. I bought D one thing so far, it was a board game that we have played with his sister and brother-in-law that we both like. He suggested the other day that maybe we should get our own copy. So I bought it and an expansion pack. It's called Settlers Of Catan. It's really cool, but ended up being $101 for both games.

I bought both of my roommates gifts and visited them this weekend. It was such a fun time. I forgot to pick up one of the gifts from one friend. The other roommate gave me a sewing bag, a card game called Dutch Blitz, a Christmas ornament, and some chocolate.

THANK YOU so much to my Secret Santa who turned out to be Annabelle gave me a book called Before I Go To Sleep which I am excited to start reading once I complete my current book, "The Half Blood Blues."

My brother came over on Friday and dropped me off the first part of my Christmas gift which he said was "time-sensitive." It turned out to be a bunch of Christmas themed baking items. A Christmas cake stand, a gingerbread flipper, Christmas cookie cutters, and some Christmas sprinkles. I look forward to some baking soon!

Speaking of baking, I made shortbread cookies, gingersnaps, and peanut butter butterscotch marshmallow squares on Friday. I had earlier done my nails...after I completed the squares I noticed that one of my nails was missing. I looked everywhere for it, but it MAY have ended up in the squares. I couldn't see it but didn't want to risk taking it to the party and have someone bite into a sticker nail! Ugh.

We have our Christmas tree up now. We picked it out last Sunday and chopped it down. It's all decorated in blue and silver balls. I put a star on the top which looked really nice for a couple of days but then it flopped over and turned into a falling star. We both haven't fixed it since it makes me laugh looking at it. Eventually we will trim it and fix it though.

Because we have so many Christmases to go to this year and travelling to do I suggested we do a small family Christmas on Christmas Eve instead since we were going to be travelling to the Niagara region for Christmas this year. My parents were good with that. I booked the time off work, and received the new schedule on Saturday. They booked me in and pretty much every other server. I asked if I could request to be one of the first people cut that day since I was supposed to be having Christmas with my family then, and the manager turned angry but said she would consider it. I spoke with my parents today and we are going to do a lunch Christmas together and then I can work and we can leave for Niagara afterward.

I am beginning to think of my new years goals for 2012. What are your new years resolutions/goals?

November Spending!

Wow, November was a crazy month. Hence the lack of postings. I hope to do more in the new year since I think December will be a bit crazy as well. D and I moved in together in November! I started a new serving job. With moving in came a lot of immediate expenses and things we needed to purchase for the apartment.

Rent ACTUAL: 13%
Car and Gas (15%) ACTUAL: 4%
Phone (4%) ACTUAL: 2%
Food (4%) ACTUAL: 10%
Restaurant (4%) ACTUAL: 4%
Personal/Medical (6%) ACTUAL 2% Prescription
Clothing (5%) ACTUAL: 4%
Gifts (2%) ACTUAL 1%
Education (2%) ACTUAL 0%
Entertainment (4%) ACTUAL 3%
Everything Else (3%) ACTUAL: 23% Ah!! I bought a dining table and chairs, and then some stuff for the apartment. Toaster, garbage cans, some kitchen items, Christmas tree decorations.

TOTAL (48%) ACTUAL 66%!! Ouch...

TFSA (35%) ACTUAL: 17%
Christmas (5%) ACTUAL: 0% Done with this category now
Computer (3%) ACTUAL: 0%
RRSP (6%) ACTUAL: 0%
Travel Fund (3%) ACTUAL: 0%

TOTAL (52%) ACTUAL 17% Glad I was able to manage some...


We haven't even paid our first hydro or internet bill yet! I am curious to see what those will be like... For December I hope to keep spending to a minimum, except for Christmas gifts. I have saved $800 for Christmas. I hope to keep my spending around that, if not lower. I have very few ideas for people though so it might be a little hectic Christmas shopping this year!