Confessional - I spent a crap ton for holidays....and I am ok with it.

[tooqk4u22]

Not very mustachian but the amount I have spent so far on food and booze is mind boggling - but I choose to do it and enjoy it.  I host two gatherings with different groups of friends and host xmas eve and xmas day with a bunch of different family and some friends coming and going.  I like that people want to come to my house (maybe its the company, maybe its easy, but I like to think its bc they feel at home and comfortable).  We all have a good time and yes people bring stuff but I provide most.  Its awesome and the best time of year between thanksgiving and new years.

Its ok, it falls in my budget and FIRE calcs and we are still working with firehose of cash, etc, etc, etc.   But its mainly ok bc it falls within my priorities for spending. 

Anybody else have similar ideals or confessionals?

[soccerluvof4]

Well then I say " Happy Holidays" and enjoy!

[partgypsy]

I always spend a lot during Christmas. However, I am not a big spender the rest of the year, so for me I don't have too much guilt about it. I also like to have a live tree, decorate, and have people over, which means more $ grocery. But for me it is totally worth it. One thing that has brought me sanity, is the end of just because/obligatory/meaningless gifts. I buy stuff I know my loved ones want or need. If I can't figure out the perfect gift for someone, I do a gift card, or gasp! nothing. some of the kind of gifts I gave this year, were things like a 6-pack of beer someone really likes, cargo work pants of the kind they need for work, jar of protein powder, bottle of nice olive oil. They sound really random and not particularly cool, but I know they are things the particular recipient would like or use.  So face punch me.

[I'm a red panda]

To me, the purpose of gaining financial independence is to be able to do what I want with my money.  It's nice to never think about a budget, never think about how much things cost, because I know I have enough for my wants and needs. That's why it is important to be FI,  I don't really care at all about the RE part. 



My holiday spending is low, because my kid is an infant and we don't have any family nearby. But in future years, who knows.  If you have the money to spend, go for it.

[Khaetra]

I too fall into the spend holiday crowd, but I also am FIRE and don't worry about it.  Like partgypsy I don't spend a lot the rest of the year, so holidays is when I splurge.

[FIRE Artist]

Me too, this is after not spending anything on Christmas but a charity donation for the last 15+ years, however this is my dad's last holiday so that changes things. 

If a dying man wants a new watch, he gets a new watch.

[Imma]

This year my spending has been limited, but typically we spend (relatively) much on food during the holidays. We don't really do gifts, but for me, sharing a table full of food is integral to our christmas tradition. We're still not talking about hundreds and hundreds of € worth of food, but maybe €50-100 while our regular grocery budget is €30/week. I don't mind it at all. It's important for me to sit down with my loved ones. We're not eating super extravagant food, but it's a little more fancy than usual.

[jrhampt]

Me, too!  Booze, Belgian chocolates, really good Polish kielbasa...

[albireo13]

Me, too!  Booze, Belgian chocolates, really good Polish kielbasa...

don't forget the sauerkraut

[jrhampt]

Me, too!  Booze, Belgian chocolates, really good Polish kielbasa...

don't forget the sauerkraut

I've got plenty of that, too.  Considerably less excited about it, though.

[Livingthedream55]

No confession needed. IMHO. I budget to spend a generous amount on gifts for my young adult children and host a big family party at my house on Christmas Day and it brings me great satisfaction.

The idea of this community is to be aware, to spend purposefully, to align spending with fulfillment (See Your Money or Your Life)
https://smile.amazon.com/Your-Money-Life-Transforming-Relationship/dp/0140167153/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1513949128&sr=8-2&keywords=your+money+or+your+life+by+vicki+robin+and+joe+dominguez
and to have enough discipline to reach one's long term financial goals.

There are things I pay others to do that would be heresy in this community (I pay someone to mow the lawn and plow my driveway when it snows, for example) - again - big on the fulfillment curve for me! Worth every penny it costs! There are other areas where I am extremely frugal. But all in all I know what I am spending and plan for it.



 

[Brother Esau]

This site has taught me that being frugal is where it's at. It also taught me that we can occasionally have nice things as long as it doesn't blow up the path to FI. My crutch happens to be nice hotels on European vacations.

[Greenback Reproduction Specialist]

Me, too!  Booze, Belgian chocolates, really good Polish kielbasa...

don't forget the sauerkraut

I've got plenty of that, too.  Considerably less excited about it, though.

Homemade sauerkraut? Mmmmm

I'm glad you guys knew how to spell sauerkraut so I didn't have to go look it up ;)

[jim555]

You are all a bunch of consumer suckas.  Fight the splurge!
I have to go shopping now.

[rosarugosa]

This is not a religious cult.  If you can afford it and it's important to you, go for it and enjoy!  We should all feel free to work out the details in the way that works best for us.  DH & I aren't big on the holidays, but we might spend more on gardening than many folks, for example.  I don't have a bike, but I frequently walk for transportation so am unapologetic about my bikeless status. If your financial house is in order, your hair is not on fire, and your expenditures are mindful & in accordance with your values, then you need not apologize and cheers to you!

[calimom]

My small business has a  holiday decorating component to it, and this year after expenses and generous bonuses to my part time employees I've realized about a $5K profit. A lot of that gets plowed into my various retirement plans, and I   bring home a pre lit tree and garland for the main part of my house with a different theme each year; this year's is magnolia and white with silver balls. The kids' tree was a freebie from the fresh cut tree supplier I use and they trick it out with old Barbie doll heads, old Star Wars toys, construction paper chains from years gone by and various wacky things they come up with. I love our house filled with lights, a warm fire, smells of cooking and music.

Where I do spend freely is food and gifts for my kids. I like having lots to offer guests, and we have a day trip to a nearby ski resort planned. My offspring are pretty awesome and it's a pleasure for me to provide gifts that will please and excite them. Horseback riding lessons, clothes and books for youngest DD, guitar lessons, clothes and swim stuff for DS, and art supplies and cash for eldest DD. Christmas Eve was/is my late husband's birthday so it's an emotional time of year for me. So sue me if play too long*

*Steely Dan reference

[Retire-Canada]

Anybody else have similar ideals or confessionals?

I definitely spend more on food and booze over the holidays. I don't care. I don't track it. Seeing people and having a bite to eat/drink is fun. There is no point having money if you can't spend a bit of it socializing.

[Sibley]

Me, too!  Booze, Belgian chocolates, really good Polish kielbasa...

The REAL Polish kielbasa, not that American imitation? I'm jealous. Granted, there's a Polish butcher somewhere around me that I could find if I cared enough.

[NoraLenderbee]

I bought myself some warm, soft woolen socks that I can wear with regular shoes (i.e., not hiking socks). Then I realized I did the same thing last year. Guess it's my Xmas tradition.