I Blew It. $75.00 That Is.

by Michelle Vandepas | More from this Blogger

16 Dec 2006 09:50 AM

I blew it today.

I got Christmas Decoration envy and went to the store and spent money.

Budgeted money.

It's not my fault. Well, ok, it is my fault but I have a good reason.

Over the last weekend Hubby and I went to a wonderful party in a new custom home that had been professionally decorated.

The lady of the house had 106 Christmas trees.

Yep. 106.

Most of them were little miniature ones with white lights and the trees were stacked together in corners and on the mantle and all around the home in a very pretty elegant way that made her house look so homey and perfect and Christmasy.

It was absolutely gorgeous.

I should have Oohhed and Aahhed and kept my resolve.

I even have a mantra. No spending No spending No spending.

Instead I rushed to the sale at the local craft store and bought $75.00 worth of decorations - on sale.

(that would be $150.00 worth not on sale! Thank goodness for the 50% off).

I even had a 40% coupon which I couldn't use because everything was already on sale!

Remember, Hubby and I have been married twenty-five years. We've built up a nice little hoard of decorations already.

I really didn't need these.

Now it is almost a week later. I've got to find the seventy-five from somewhere.

At least I didn't charge it. It came right from the checking account, on the debit card, so the money has come and gone - already spent. I'm proud of myself for not getting out the credit card.

But something else has to give. It'll probably be a whole months worth of entertainment, and scrimping on the food budget and giving up my $20.00 hair cut next month.

Was it worth it?

I've got a very nice but not professionally decorated home.......but the house is pretty.

Christmas stress and budgeting

More on Christmas budgeting Learning to say no to yourself!

Learn more about Michelle Vandepas

In a previous life, Michelle was president of a medical manufacturing company, and then in private practice as a holistic business consultant.

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