Christmas Savings Challenges • Money Diaries #12 • Give Experiences, NOT Things!

It's time to check in for the second week of July! My money diaries include all of my personal spending as well as my SG307 spending. We don't include bills as those are past of the budget!

I also stuff money into my 2 Christmas Binders!

#christmas #savingschallenges #moneydiaries

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Christmas Cuties Binder- @CraftCoBudgets

Snowflake Christmas Binder- @JanellRaeBudgets
Randomizer- @MischiefManagedBudgets
1. Puppy- Rami @budgetpaparazzi
2. OCD Christmas- Dani @CraftCoBudgets
3. Penguins- Tracey @GoldenGirlBudgets
4. Pinecone- Jessica @gpsoddsends
5. Snowmen- Janell @JanellRaeBudgets
6. Christmas Snow globe- Liz @lizandless
7. Pigs- Stef @stefsonabudget
8. Hot Chocolate - ME @SnowGardener307Budgets
9. Snowmen- Wendy @thethriftysewist
10. Santa- Bobbi @lifewithbobbi
11. Hot Chocolate- I don't know!
12. Gingerbread- Wren @MischiefManagedBudgets

Our starting debt total in April 2020 was: $365,862.62
Our 1 year debt total in April 2021 was: $274,008.61
Our 2 year debt total in April 2022 was $206,365.15
Our 3 year debt update in April 2023 was $210,786.75
Our 4 year debt update in April 2023 was $201,986.79
NOTES:
* In 2023 and 2024, we incurred more debt and paid a large portion of that debt off, so our debt paid numbers are actually higher than what they appear.
* The above numbers include our mortgage.

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DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a financial advisor or expert. All views and opinions on this channel are my personal opinions. I am documenting my journey as it relates to my family’s financial and debt freedom progress and sharing how we manage our money. Prior to making any financial decisions for yourself/your family, CONSULT your financial advisor or planner.

[LiftedUpandLiving]

I save about $5000 for gifts stockings and Christmas brunch and dinner. We are a family of 16 ppl at Christmas and I host them all Christmas Day!❤. It’s my favourite day of the year as we are all together ❤ ❤

[judithprice]

You are so fun to watch and do help us with REALITY AS IT HAPPENS. Budgeting is decision making and you help give confidence to select wisely!

[moneywithjustliving]

Hey Marlene, I too am enjoying watching all the Christmas challenges. It fun watching them grow.

[Girlmommabudgets]

Yep Janell’s challenge 😊 great savings today ❤

[amandab]

That Christmas Cuties binder is so cute.

[Chatty-KathyBudgets]

💜💜💜 Happy Wednesday my friend 😊😊 here watching 💜💜💜

[Savingwithjamie]

Merry Xmas can't waite for the new challenges .

[misha]

Hi Marlene, love Christmas savings. This is the first year I started saving in advance and I am loving it. I’m poor so I only do $50 each for mom and dad, $100 for my boyfriend and around $150-$200 for my 7 year old and I believe I already have that much saved but planning to keep on saving to get a head start for next year. So glad I found this community because I’m fully funded with back to school, the 3 cabining trips this summer and my cruise in Jan! So thank you for teaching me how to save and it’s alright when things come up and money gets tight.

[windmillridgebudgets]

Happy Friday! I love the way you explain the How’s and Why’s of your process. I’ve started running your playlist. If you’re like me, you can always use the watch hours. Have a great weekend. 🥰🤗 21:18

[jlkuttler]

Can’t wait to see if you do Christmas cuties next or do something else on a rotation.

[thedramaticpanda]

I was just saying yesterday I need to make an actual list/budget for Christmas! This is my first year really budgeting so my first time doing Christmas on a budget! Usually I SAY 1k-1500 but I don't actually know...def something to work on in the next few weeks!

[marysigmon]

Love your videoes, can't wait to see your new Christmas challenges

[budgetingwithT]

This year, my budget is $2400 for Christmas. That is just for presents. I don't cook a Christmas meal. I go to my Mother in Laws Christmas Eve and my Moms Christmas Day. Presents include my 2 kids, my younger niece and nephew, and 3 of my great niece and nephews. I also buy for my Mom and Mother in Law.

[BeckyRudolph-md]

Yes janell Rae budgets. I just bought that one 😂

[stefsonabudget]

Hi Marlene! Watching and working today 🌸💕

[toebeanbudgets]

Nice job on the xmas future. That is a Janelle Rae challenge - I have the same one. I only save a few hundred for xmas now that everyone is older (no toddlers around anymore). Years ago it got super expensive for those with young kids to buy for everyone. So we decided to not buy/exchange gifts for everyone. I only buy for a few people now.

[patriciavaughn]

Our family lives in the same city, so we don’t save for travel, and we all pitch in for finger foods for Christmas dinner, so that can come out of my regular grocery budget. I save $100-$140 a month, but only need $500 for family gifts. The rest is for blessing people in our community.

[thevictoriagoogin]

😂😂😂im so spicy!- that was hilarious
For Christmas i save $2k-$2500, the only thing that amount does not include is traveling bc we usually stay home. Its high partially bc advent calendars have become a big deal in our house. We ship for myself, Jacob & Greysin, my sister (from another mister) & her daughter (my only daughter lol). We do angel tree shopping & i send a gift card to a friend to take her crew out for lunch.

[tcslife]

I spend $100 total. I buy my dad and i both a small gift to open and the rest goes to groceries for Christmas dinner.

[cmpprince]

This is my first year saving for Christmas. I'm trying to get $1500 to $2000 saved up for gifts, dinner, decor, and hopefully paying for half of my adult children's plane tickets home.