Re: Anyone else poor now?

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I think he's oblivious b/c I do all the bills & b/c we have $ in the bank he doesn't think there's a problem.....URRRRRRR

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This is exactly what I am living!

Re: Anyone else poor now?

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Posted by lipglossjunky73

We're not paying for the wedding - my dad is - if we had to pay, we wouldn't be having a wedding at all... just a ceremony in a park...

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Assuming you both work and your not paying for the wedding and you both dont own credit cards, how can you have a negative balance?

ETA: a little osmething goes a long way also...it's the thought so dont worry about it..

Re: Anyone else poor now?

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Posted by MJDoc12

put the gifts cards down--step away from your credit card and stop buying gifts!!!

christmas is about family and spending time with one another...not about bouncing checks and spending $$ on gifts you can't afford. if you don't have...YOU DON'T HAVE IT!!

give friends and family a nice card...and let them know that times are tough. they will understand.

want to make them nice inexpensive gifts? to to michael's or bed, bath & beyond, and buy some discounted holiday platters (BBB had some for $2!) and then go home and bake some cookies, brownies, cake, etc. and then create holiday gift platters out of it. that way you don't go empty handed, and save $$

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thats a great idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I always love baked gifts..

Re: Anyone else poor now?

FH & I host a soiree we serve cocktails & hordouvers, and of course baked goodies...

We do this in lieu of exchanging w/ friends, however we do buy 'party favors' ex: champagne flutes, candels & journals,

Re: Anyone else poor now?

it's a lot less than exchanging,

Re: Anyone else poor now?

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Posted by MJDoc12

put the gifts cards down--step away from your credit card and stop buying gifts!!!

christmas is about family and spending time with one another...not about bouncing checks and spending $$ on gifts you can't afford. if you don't have...YOU DON'T HAVE IT!!

give friends and family a nice card...and let them know that times are tough. they will understand.

want to make them nice inexpensive gifts? to to michael's or bed, bath & beyond, and buy some discounted holiday platters (BBB had some for $2!) and then go home and bake some cookies, brownies, cake, etc. and then create holiday gift platters out of it. that way you don't go empty handed, and save $$

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Word.

Do you have a budget? Like Bella11 said..with no credit cards and not having to pay for the wedding...where does it all go? Not wanting an answer for that one..but I have a coworker in the same situation. NO bills, and no money. We pulled her debit card statement and you wouldn't believe how much eating out and buying nonsense things add up! Check and see where your money is going...you'd be surprised.

and I agree with MJDoc12, I'm sure your family would not be mad if you don't go all out for Christmas....its not about the presents. Its about having our families..our health...our friends...oh yeah and a hot toddy by the fireplace!!!

Don't let $$$$ get you down, it will all get better

Re: Anyone else poor now?

What i say, it'll al work out, but its definately tough with the wedding and all.

Re: Anyone else poor now?

I was poor before Christmas. But I refused to use what little credit cards I have. I agree with the baked goods! Awesome idea!

Re: Anyone else poor now?

We are in the same boat. We're paying for our wedding and our budget is very tight, our account is constantly near negative balance. We can only do what we can, I'm sure everyone should understand. We're not even getting gifts for each other this year, our wedding is our gift to each other.

Re: Anyone else poor now?

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Posted by JennyAl

i am poor....i saw my credit card bill...$2,000 and i onyl have $1500 in savings!

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we have nothing in savings!!! We are hoping our wedding gifts can go into savings - we can't even plan a HM until after the wedding so we know what kind of money we are dealing with...

Re: Anyone else poor now?

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Posted by bella11

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Posted by lipglossjunky73

We're not paying for the wedding - my dad is - if we had to pay, we wouldn't be having a wedding at all... just a ceremony in a park...

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Assuming you both work and your not paying for the wedding and you both dont own credit cards, how can you have a negative balance?

ETA: a little osmething goes a long way also...it's the thought so dont worry about it..

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Well, we both came into each other's lives with a lot of debt, I got hit hard with taxes that I am still paying off on an installment plan, and a significant amt of his pay check goes to child support - he has 2 kids, plus he does other things to support them on top of that. He was also laid off for 3 weeks in Oct. that we just couldn't recover from in time for the holidays.

It just hasn't been a good year for us financially....

Re: Anyone else poor now?

Word.

Do you have a budget? Like Bella11 said..with no credit cards and not having to pay for the wedding...where does it all go? Not wanting an answer for that one..but I have a coworker in the same situation. NO bills, and no money. We pulled her debit card statement and you wouldn't believe how much eating out and buying nonsense things add up! Check and see where your money is going...you'd be surprised.

and I agree with MJDoc12, I'm sure your family would not be mad if you don't go all out for Christmas....its not about the presents. Its about having our families..our health...our friends...oh yeah and a hot toddy by the fireplace!!!

Don't let $$$$ get you down, it will all get better

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Yes - we have a budget - I have to drive a lot for work - I am budgeted 60 dollars a week for everything. No extras - it mostly goes to gas - we bag our lunches...

As for eating out - we maybe - MAYBE - do that once a month - occasionally, we take the girls our for pizza or chinese - but the poor things have been living on pasta or mac and cheese lately or canned soup for dinner - and they never complain!

As for nonsense things - we are still engaged, and we would like to enjoy just going out on a date sometime... we try and save our budgetted week money to go to the movies once a month, or to get a drink (usually we just buy a 6 pack and drink at home instead of going out...)

we havent been able to do anything w/ the girls in ages... their b-days are in january... we are saving up to take them out...

Re: Anyone else poor now?

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Posted by lipglossjunky73

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Posted by bella11

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Posted by lipglossjunky73

We're not paying for the wedding - my dad is - if we had to pay, we wouldn't be having a wedding at all... just a ceremony in a park...

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Assuming you both work and your not paying for the wedding and you both dont own credit cards, how can you have a negative balance?

ETA: a little osmething goes a long way also...it's the thought so dont worry about it..

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Well, we both came into each other's lives with a lot of debt, I got hit hard with taxes that I am still paying off on an installment plan, and a significant amt of his pay check goes to child support - he has 2 kids, plus he does other things to support them on top of that. He was also laid off for 3 weeks in Oct. that we just couldn't recover from in time for the holidays.

It just hasn't been a good year for us financially....

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I am MORE than sure that your family and friends would understand if you didnt get them a gift...if anything buying gifts for your future step children would be enough. Dont spend the money you dont have (it wil lpnly cause more headaches) and dont use the gift cards that are meant for you and FH to enjoy...no one will think less of you both if you didnt get them a x-mas gift...

Good Luck andI wish you a wonderful New Year!

Re: Anyone else poor now?

Re: Anyone else poor now?

I let my family know I can't be as generous this year as I have been in years past. They all said 'don't worry about it, take care of your priorities first'. The only one I was told to get gifts for are my nieces, because they don't know what it means to not have money for gifts, and I can't take away xmas gifts from them.

I budgeted $50 per couple. That was the only way I could pull off getting gifts and still having money left over for bills and expenses.

Re: Anyone else poor now?

Thank god for our gift cards - they really did save our butts this year!!!

Maybe next year we'll hit the lottery...

thanks ladies for your support!!!

Re: Anyone else poor now?

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Posted by Theatrimelz

yes I am poor and too despressed to go into detail...

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Same here....

There will be no X-mas in our house!!!

Re: Anyone else poor now?

I'm poor but I'm used to it.

Re: Anyone else poor now?

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Posted by Theatrimelz

yes I am poor and too despressed to go into detail...

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I hear ya!

Re: Anyone else poor now?

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Posted by lipglossjunky73

I'm not talking about too poor to buy a Juicy outfit - I mean - negative balance in the bank....



and we still have gifts to buy!!!

we are using gift cards we received for our engagement to help us out - but it's still not enough...

What are we going to do????

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Yes Ma'am! I just got out of the negative this week and am at a whopping 86 bucks. Those two deposits I still have to make for my vendors will have to freakin wait.... this has been a REALLY rough Xmas. Minimal gifts for everyone, when normally I am the queen of splurging..