The Upcoming Week's Schedule and How It Affects My Budget

This week is a bit crazy for me, both in terms of a schedule and what I now am going to be spending.  I was  pretty strict with my present budget this year. I did give myself a small budget for "overages and unexpected purchases", and the operative word is small. I narrowed my list down to the few folks I truly want to spend money on and my plans for the upcoming week are all falling together.

Saturday and Sunday: Work at Barn, try to go to friends Hanukkah party on Sunday night on my way home if the weather co-operates. We are getting a weekend of snow here in New England-Think Bing Crosby's White Christmas!  I'll try to post a photo of my view.

Monday and Tuesday: Work a normal schedule.

Wednesday: Work a half day, pick up dessert from fancy pastry shop for Christmas, go home, put feet up and relax.  Supposed to go have Christmas Eve dinner with friends, may just stay home and watch Love, Actually, may head off to a mid-day matinee at the local movie theater (they traditionally have a Christmas eve matinee). The weather will dictate what I do. 

Thursday: Hopefully sleep in, but probably up early anyway, open a few presents, get dressed and head off to a mid-afternoon Christmas lunch/dinner. I'm thinking about making a nice spicy Bloody Mary to have with my Christmas breakfast.

Friday: Work (yuck!), maybe meet up with a relative who is unexpectedly coming in from out of state. My boss at my regular job is out of town and I'm stuck being in the office. 

Saturday and Sunday: ?

I have the option of working next weekend at the barn sitting job, but I may pass and pass on the cash for the sole reason I'm tired! Right now, at this point, I'm just not feeling motivated in any way, shape or form to drive back to the barn next weekend. I think I'd like to stay at  my house. I've not been home for a weekend since the middle of November.  I'll happily work the weekend after New Years, but I'm leaning towards taking this weekend off.

I'm having my Christmas meal with a group of friends, I know everyone except one person who is coming and I found out via the ever (and this time, very) reliable grapevine that two of the guests are bringing presents for me.  This was not supposed to be a present exchanging kind of a party.  I do have a small gift for the host and hostess and one other person that I know well (I'm recycling a gift for them). Sigh, I'm feeling like I need to go out and shop for the other two or more guests.  I really don't want to and I'm hoping the "moment will pass".  I have no desire to go and shop for 8 other people. They were not on my list!

Ah well, it is what it is. 

The Holiday Present List

My Present List 2009

Friend K: A novelty tee shirt-already purchased and given last month. Cost $13
Friends R and S: I'm having Christmas lunch with R and S and their family. My contribution/present is a dessert from a gourmet local bakery, plus two jars of gourmet mustard I found at a local store (these folks love mustard). Cost $45
Friends P and L: One bottle of Whiskey, one bottle of  acceptable Port, some other small treats: Cost $60
Friend T: A bottle of gin. $25
Friend D: Two small Yankee Candles $20
Lovely Neighbors: Don't want to do a present exchange this year, they are having money problems, but I am going to get them something not to exceed $30. They have been great watching my house and helping me with the animals. It will be a present from the poochies and not from me.

My total budget for holiday presents is just under $200. This does not include my present to myself, yet to be decided, but most likely not to exceed $60.  I've pared down the list to the nearest and dearest to me. I am getting presents only for those friends who have been "good' and "there" for me this year-no questions asked, especially when I was having a meltdown about something!  I would be very remiss not to do something for them.

The easy and nice part is that 90% of this shopping can be done at my local liquor store, in and out in 15 minutes. It's easy to do when the few I'm buying for are quite happy with a "liquid" present. Plus I get to support a local business.  I'm not doing presents for many of the others I've done presents for in the past, I just don't have the budget. I've limited the number of acceptances to the various holiday get togethers this year as well.  One because I've been barn sitting on weekends and two because it also gets me out of the obligatory bottle of cheer I always feel compelled to bring to the party.  Part of me does miss the parties, getting dressed up, eating good food, seeing people, I like a good party!

How goes your list and shopping?

For Sale-Think Christmas Early!

OK, Here is what is for sale

Books (prices range from 75c to 3.00)

Jill Mansell-
Miranda's Big Mistake
Open House
The One You Really Want

Peter Mayle
Aquired Tastes

Jennifere Weiner-
Little Earthquakes

Stacey Ballis
The Spinster Sisters
Inappropriate Men

Jen Lancaster
Such a Pretty Fat

Monica McInerney
Upside Down, Inside Out

DVDs Prices range from ($1-$4)

The Break Up
Snatch-2 disc special edition
Casual Sex
Big-still in wrapper
Chicago
The Italian Job
Analyze This
Caddyshack-20th anniversary edition

If interested in any of the items, e-mail me and I can give you shipping information