Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Lifestyle

Christmas Budgets

November 7, 2012

Well, this week isn't going exactly as I planned. I had hopes of adding a lot more paintings to our shop and sneaking in a few more blog posts while we celebrate our anniversary this week, but I have been down for the count.  My body is not reacting the best to my new medication and I have been sick, sick, sick.  The good news is, I think I am on the rebound.  I think.  Every day I feel...different, but my doctor assured me that it is normal and will just take some time to adjust.  So while we haven't been painting or planning Greta's big-girl room,  (yes, that's next on the agenda!), Chris has taken off work and we have got a lot of chatting in--which has been wonderful. We have talked kitchen plans, which we hope to tackle at the beginning of the year, how we should put up (but not turn on) our exterior lights before it gets too cold, and the frequently mocked and forgotten Christmas budget. Here's how that conversation went down:

J: We need to talk about our christmas budgets for each other.
C: Okay, your budget for me is $100, my budget for you in non-existent.
J: No, really, let's set a reasonable, equal budget for each other to stick to. $100 each sounds perfect.
C: There is zero chance I am spending less than $350 on you for Christmas.
J: $250. Max.
C: There's no way I'm spending less than $350
J: Well then you can't go over that.
C: I might go a dollar or two over it, but I won't blow it completely off.

pause. pause.

C: That's $350 worth of things you'll open up Christmas morning.
J: What does that even mean?
C: I don't know...maybe something will sneak in before christmas comes.  Hard to say. I'm not a fortune teller.

Le Sigh. Good thing he keeps me laughing. How do you handle Christmas budgets? Do you find that one of you always tends to go way over budget?!  For us, it is Chris. Every. Year. Or maybe the word, "budget" doesn't even enter the your mouths this season. Do tell!

(The above photo is an outtake from last year's holiday family photos.  It makes us laugh every time we see it.)

filed under: 
— Hide Comments
+ ShowComments
What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. I ALWAYS go overboard on my Mom. To me, she just deserves everything she could ever possibly want or need - especially now that I'm married and we have a two income family (with no kids) and she lives by herself. I feel like I should repay her for all the awesome, selfless things she's done for me over the years. The Hubs and I are pretty good about not spending a lot of money on each other. There's usually one or two things we specifically want and get for each other and then we get something for our house.

  2. So I feel a little odd writing this...having never met you...but when I went to check your blog today and didn't see anything yet, my immediate thought was 'Oh! It's their anniversary - I hope they are celebrating!' than my second thought was...'Wow - this is mildly crazy, remembering strangers anniversaries' (though only from your blog post two days ago.) So from a self-diagnosed crazy reader, a very happy anniversary to you and your husband!

  3. I, personally, hope to get to that point one day--the whole, go on a gift together for each other or for the house. We have limited Greta's gifts to five, which seems to be working formula of things she needs and would like. I love hearing about different traditions around the world.

  4. I love that story. There was one early Christmas when we were very, very poor and really wanted to get a video camera so we saved up our money and used gift cards from Christmas to buy one. Our family members felt so bad for opening gifts in front of us--but it really made us so happy to be able to get that camera. ... That we have since sold. Hahaha!

  5. My husband grew up in India and, although his family were Christians and celebrated Christmas, it was very small scale and gifts weren't exchanged except for sweets for the kids. Now that he lives in the U.S. and married to me, we do a traditional American-style Santa-infused Christmas, but he thinks I go WAY overboard on gifts for the kids and keeps reminding me about the true meaning of Christmas. I know he's right, really he is, but for me, it doesn't feel like Christmas unless there are a ton of gifts under the tree. Trying to find the right balance and not go crazy with it is tough sometimes. As far as me and him, we usually decide up front on a small budget for each other or we make a larger purchase for the home and call that our gift to each other. Not very romantic, but it works for us. By the way, I am new to your blog but love it! Thanks for all the great ideas!

  6. That could have been the exact conversation my hubby and me have every year! He is also the big spender- every year!! It makes me feel like a jerk for not going over the budget. Hope you feel lots better soon. My sister is going through that adjustment also.

  7. We are peculiar, we tend to plan our gifts together and don't surprise each other v. often, unless it's for small items like a tie or earrings or something...it's funny but it works for us. Maybe because we are thrifty grad students :)

  8. budgets are hard!! i've been buying early this year. small things. vintage/antique finds that I know I won't be able to find again later. Hoping to avoid the conversation but i'm sure we will!

  9. Awww, how cute! We try to set Christmas budgets every year but I always end up blowing it. I also tend to give gifts early (I can't wait!) so to make up for the ones I give early, I buy more to give on Christmas day. It's a vicious cycle I tell ya haha

  10. Haha, we always see a Christmas show at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and it's sort of our gift to each other every year. Other than that, we might get each other something under or around $50... but this year I have a few ideas for Scott that might go over that!

    Hope you start to feel better!

  11. That's really cute. And definitely how things usually go around here as well. But this year I have the head start and am creating a tasteful tv room for my husband as a surprise while he is away. Included in that is a few higher-then-my-usual-price-limit items that he isn't expecting. :)

  12. Oh man. Our first year of marriage, we were dirt poor and Logan really needed a suit. So I decided to donate plasma as much as possible. I earned a couple hundred dolla bills and bought him the prettiest grey suit money can buy. I looked like a Heroine user. It was great.

    It's been four years. Logan ripped the suit about 1.5 years ago. We still laugh about it. I may just have to give some plasma this year. :)

What We're

Loving

Right Now

What We're

Loving

Right Now

Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop
Shop All

Love Stories

Love Where You Live

In an industry that often feels designed to make you discontent, we want this to be place you come for inspiration, ideas, and encouragement to make the space you're already in feel like home.
Read All Posts
let's break this thing up

BROWSE BY CATEGORY

01

Portfolio

Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here.
read more
02

Projects

We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen.
read more
03

Design

Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.
read more
hello world!

looking for inspiration?

Sales

The Best Early Black Friday Deals in 2024 (And More to Come!)

So many of our favorite stores have already launched early Black Friday sales, and we know there’s more to come! We collected all of the best deals of the holiday season—from tech to home decor—in one place for easy reference. Whether you want the lowest price on one of the best gifts of the year […]
Design

The Exciting Plans for Our Primary Bathroom Design

Chris and I have always said that if we don't feel 100% all-in excited about a project—both of us—then we probably haven't found the solution yet. I think that's been the tale with our primary bathroom renovation as a whole. We feel excited about doing the project, but it's been YEARS in the design phase […]
Chris Cooks

Mom's Light & Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls

I do a lot of cooking for food restrictions, but this recipe is none of those things. These dinner rolls are my mom's recipe, and they're one of her signature dishes. She has made them for almost every gathering since I was a kid. The smell of these...it's the smell of every family event in […]
Beautifully wrapped traditional presents stacked in a doorway
Gift Guides!

Holiday Gift Guides for Everyone in Your Life {2024}

Remember the thrill of unwrapping a gift that felt just right? Let's bring that magic back this holiday season!! Our curated gift guides for 2024 are filled with thoughtful picks that will make your loved ones feel special. That's what it's all about, after all. Whether you're shopping for your main guy, your clutch coworker, […]
Learn With Us
Want to do what we do? Get the tools, mentorship, and training to be a Good Influencer professionally.
Learn More
Looking for Something?

SEARCH THE BLOG

We've been doing this since 2009 and we've posted a whopping 24145+ blog posts and counting. You might need a little help searching, huh?

Can We Send You Our Love Letter?

Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!

hello world!
Follow Along on Instagram
Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations
© 2024 Chris Loves Julia, LLC
PRIVACY POLICYTERMS & CONDITIONSAFFILIATE DISCLAIMERSITE CREDITCOMMUNITY GUIDELINES