Why do I like to overspend on buying my family gifts for Christmas? Growing up very lower middle class we did not have much but we always had presents under the tree. I love seeing the smile on my family’s face when they open the gifts on Christmas morning, especially the one on my spouse’s face. I know they deal with a lot and deserve to be treated right. I love this time of year with it getting darker outside to many it brings out their depression but for me it does the opposite. I love going to the stores more, seeing others shopping for their loved ones. The joy of being out helps keep my depression at bay. They say go to other places that are not stores. I am not a big nature person, but I do not mind going to the park sometimes. I know it sets us back on our financial goals, but I just love doing it.
How we prevent overspending
First, I do not buy things based on brand loyalty or the newest and greatest items hitting the market. Especially with groceries you can buy store brands instead of the manufacturer brands usually cheaper. For other items, either we buy the last generation of things, or we wait a year or two before we buy the item. Next, we try to buy things that will last. We do enjoy going to “Five Below” and other stores to buy stalking stuffers and other cheap items that will probably not last, especially with our 10-year-old son. Things don’t seem to last with him. We do not buy them everything they want.