Oh, the holidays, you guys. Every year, I say NEXT YEAR I am going to start shopping in January. And then.
Things are... expensive.
We have FIVE CHILDREN, and even if we only buy a modest amount of things for them (spoiler: NOT OUR STYLE), those things add up fast. And older kids! The things they want cost more! It is SO EASY to make all of Minnie's Amazon toy catalog dreams come true, but then a kid is like OH HEY LOOK AT THIS AWESOME CAMERA I WANT and ...
I think when we are done with Santa (SOB), things will be easier because we won't feel like there has to be any sort of parity. Right now, we make sure everyone has the same amount of things to unwrap, and when our kids are all older and understand markets (LOL), it will be easier to be like oh yes we bought this persona many cheap things. But you can enjoy your (INSERT RIDICULOUS EXTRAVAGANCE HERE).
Thinking more about spending this year, though, I realize that we are just sort of spendy all the time, which is why we have a cozy house and mid-line cars and take small trips. WE LIKE TO BUY STUFF, and that's ok. We like giant Christmases, and that's FINE. So, we have to appreciate the process, if that makes sense. No reason to hem and haw and worry about money flying out the door when we KNOW it will happen, and we LIKE the result.
Something I CAN be better at, though, is the spur of the moment splurges. Like buying Minnie a new leotard for her mini holiday dance (and also buying Dorothy xmas legwarmers and a sparkly headband so she, too, can dress festively.) Yes, that's only $20/kid, but also it is POINTLESS MONEY to spend. It has been really cold, so I have driven Dorothy and Coop to school the past few days-- and also bought them hot chocolate and treats on the way. Another $30. $20 for smart plugs for our outdoor Christmas lights. $20 for a non-obtrusive extension cord for Ben to use when he WFH so we don't trip over his cord and die. $30 for Jack and Dorothy to troll Target together (they bought cozy socks and a holiday mini-waffle maker). $100 on clothes for Coop because we cannot wait another second for him to COVER UP HIS ANKLES MY GOD). Minnie said she wanted to pierce her ears, and I was $150 poorer before you could say HEGEMONY.
And THEN! It HURT and she was a bit traumatized, so she wanted a treat and I was like um actually that expensive ordeal WAS the treat. So we went to the grocery store for frozen pizza and stuff to make blueberry muffins instead of going out to lunch (WINNING! Sort of ).
But seriously! Pierced ears!! (The fancy mall in our town got a Rowan-- a piercing place that uses nurses! And is adorable! When her earrings are ready come out, we can make an appointment to have a nurse take them out and put in her first regular pair-- so great!)
(She was back to herself in no time)