by Hope
My visit to Texas was so busy. Between working my full time job, helping with mom’s care a bit, working through stacks and stacks of paperwork, purging and cleaning the kitchen, getting Christmas done for my dad and myself, and family get togethers a couple times a week, I am ready for the quiet of home. For a little while at least.
I mentioned in a recent post my plan for crafting Christmas gifts. Working hard to stay in my $5 savings budget. And I’m so thrilled with what I created over the last 3 weeks. (See teaser image above).
A quick trip to Hobby Lobby right after Thanksgiving when everything was on sale provided all I needed to create some budget friendly, very personal gifts for my Texas family. And it was such a nice “break” from all that was going on.
I thoroughly enjoyed the moments that I could put on my headphones and tune out everything else for a little while and just paint and create. It’s so easy to lose sight of these small pleasures with the crazy of the holiday season.
While I am no expert at art, and I’m not a perfectionist, I am really proud of the variety of items I created. And they are all wrapped and under the tree.
Total spent…$60! Not to shabby for 7 presents. Woot, woot. And I think they will really like them.
I also helped my dad with his presents, getting them wrapped, ordered, and thought through.
Continued growth
I continue to see an evolution of my perspective with regard to money. And that is certainly not more evident than at this time of year. Making Christmas special has always been so important to me. And for most of my life, that’s been $$$$ on gifts.
Don’t get me wrong, I am still driven to make Christmas special. But I am recognizing that it doesn’t have to equal the dollars spent on gifts. But maybe the effort and heart put into the gift.
Blind date with a book
My favorite find for this Christmas…the local library had a $7 per bag of books sales while I was in Texas. Guess who’s getting books for Christmas? Yes, everyone. And they are so personalized. Have you ever heard of blind date with a book?
Etsy Inspiration of how to wrap a blind date with a book – not my image
Seeing images like this one above inspired me. I grabbed my bag of books, old newspaper out of my dad’s garage, twine my sister had laying around, and a variety of cards, paper clips, stickers, snacks, etc. and wrapped up my own “blind date with a book” gifts for everyone.
It was so fun, and the only cost $7 for a bag of books from the local library.
I pray this season you can find ways to make it feel special without breaking the bank. This is such a new feeling for me. And I am so grateful for the many blessings that I have so often taken for granted.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
