OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD 2012

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Preparing Better For Next Christmas

As I was reading through a few blogs this morning, I found a particular post at Money, Matter and More Musings that reminded me of how much I really spent at Christmas.

I really wanted to just forget about the total amount of money spent by me and my husband for each other and our family members. I guess in the back of my mind I know it would be okay, because of a stash of money we have left over from a house refinance. The refinance we did in order to put my husband through school full time. This way, he would not have to work and could accomplish his goals in a year as opposed to two or three years. Well, I know how much money is left over and in my mind I told myself that it was okay to spend all that money. How much you ask?

Between the two of us, we spent about 4000.00 dollars. Yep,,, that is a lot of money. I cringe every time I think about it. Its all paid off due to left over moeny from the refinance. But we just spent too much.

Hubby and I are of a different mindset when it comes to money. I like to save it, (except during the Christmas holiday :)) and he likes to buy things he wants when he wants them. We don't budget together. We have separate accounts. Most of the time that will work for us. But I know in order for us to successfully fund our retirements we are going to have to face this and work together.

Hubby has no retirement. At his last place of employment of 12 years, he chose not to contribute to the 401k program. The palce of employment before that, he did contribute to the 401k program and had saved 40,000 dollars. At that time, we were in HUGE, DEEP DEBT! We decided to cash out the 401k and payoff the bills.

That was a temporary fix. We eventually found ourselves in DEEP DEBT again within a few years.

So, hubby is currently looking for emplyment in his new field and I am hoping he will decide to join the 401k at the new place. We shall see.

Getting back to overspending at Christmas... I have to work with my husband and we have to come to an agreement as to how much to spend at Christmas next year. AND we have to start to fund that endeavor starting now.



I will keep you posted on how this all works out.

6 comments:

Maria said...

That's a toughy! I'm sure that you will be able to get on the same page with your husband. Best of luck.

Anonymous said...

Wow..you must have bought real nice things. :)

On a serious note, I am glad that you were able to pay it off. That really matters down the long run. I mean things are meant to be bought...if you can pay you cards off after buying them. So take it easy.

On the differences between you and your husband...I think it's alright, may be that's what makes life interesting. It's like...if you have all the fingers on your hand of the same length it would be very boring...it's good when things are slightly different :)

Lisa said...

Maria and golbguru,

After 28 years of marriage, we both know how each of us operates, so to speak.

But....as you said golbguru, differences do make life interesting. And I am okay with that and accept it. But I sure like to whine about it occasionally :)!!

Maria... I am ever hopeful that we will be on the same page financially, but saying that, I know how hubby is and I certainly love and accept him just so.

But.... hey if he has any questions about financial stuff I certainly have more knowledge now than before so I am ready!!

Dimes said...

Oy, it's hard when you're the saver and your spouse is the spender, and it's even worse when your spouse is both the spender *and* the earner. That's the problem we deal with, but at least this year we didn't go over on our Christmas spending (probably because I was the only one doing any spending!).
I think nowadays they make 401k enrollment pretty much mandatory, so maybe he'll end up saving something, at least.

Lisa said...

Dimes,

I sure hope the 401k is mandatory. We are not getting any younger and I hope he realizes that he nedds to start saving..... or win the lottery. :)

I hope we will see eye to eye on most of the retirement plans.... that is when we can talk about them AND agree on most of them.

Which one of us has our head in the sand? Me or Him?

lndsymaria said...

That's a toughy! I'm sure that you will be able to get on the same page with your husband. Best of luck.

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