I just want to say, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
Thanks for reading my blog and I’m very very thankful for all your PF blogger friendship over the years, and for all the great posts fellow PF bloggers write for me to read, and last but not LEAST I’m also thankful for all the readers who regularly read this blog.
I hope everyone has a relaxing, restful, and invigorating (hey, short bread cookies, biscotti, and egg nog are invigorating, IMO) Christmas spent with loved ones.
I am also thankful for stores that open past 9pm and I’m thankful for the ABILITY to last minute shop for Christmas presents (if stores all closed at 6pm I wouldn’t know what to do).
This year, I spent about $400 on Christmas gifts and I bought gifts for my mom, sisters, brother, boyfriend, boyfriend’s family, and 8 close girlfriends. It was still higher than I’d like, but better than if I didn’t do any secret santa gift exchanges or homemade gifts, if I didn’t do these, I would guess my gift total would be closer to $500 or even $600.
Readers, how much did you spend on your Christmas gifts this year? (I know, I know, I’m nosy.. but that’s what personal finance is about.. isnt’ it?) 
PF Blog Love:
Invest it Wisely has a great guest post about getting out of student debt (very relevant for me right now as I’m trying to avoid this at all cost)- Krystal from GMBMFB has huge news to share! She’s quitting her job and moving to Germany! Great way to follow your dream and incorporate some adventure
- Little House in the Valley has a guest post talking about saving up for a down payment
- Financial Samurai shares his encounter with a beautiful, smart, but single dentistry student
- Money Smarts Blog has some super last minute Christmas gift ideas (ahem, GUYS, you may want to read this
) - The Financial Blogger is giving away $500 in cold, hard, cash (via paypal lol). All you have to do is confess your biggest financial sin of 2011.
- My Own Advisor has a really cute poem incorporating all of the Canadian personal finance bloggers. Go check it out- it’ll put a smile on your face, I know it did for me!
- Retire by 40 updates us on his New Years resolutions of 2011. And YAY! He survived 2011! Now he has to survive 2012, which is the big one we need to worry about
- Prairie Eco Thrifter shares some tips on baking cheap holiday cookies and breads
- Boomer and Echo talk about the important risks involved in having joint accounts. (this is important for all us cohabitators out there!)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS and thanks for reading!!!
Right back at you. Happy holidays to you too and I hope you have a great holiday weekend. Thanks too for including Marie’s cookie post. Those recipes sound delicious hey?!
@Miss T- Yeah they do- now if I could only find the time to bake them…..
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Y&T. I wish you all the best in 2012. Thanks for supporting our blog!
@Echo- Thank you for supporting my blog too
Merry Christmas to you and your family too!
Merry Christmas, Y&T, and thanks for all of the great mentions over time.
@Invest it Wisely- Merry Christmas to you too! Hope you have a great first (?) Christmas in your condo!
Merry Christmas to you too! Have a wonderful holiday season and thanks so much for including my link!
@Little House- You’re always welcome. Thank you for being such a great PF blogging friend throughout these years.
Happy holidays! I hope you have a great weekend.
Oh…love the pic! Cheers to new friendships! Merry Christmas!
@femmefrugality- cheers!!
Happy holidays.
Thanks very much for the blog support throughout the year. Greatly appreciated.
I wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best in 2012.
Stay in touch Y&T
Mark
@MOA- Merry Christmas to you too Mark and best of luck in 2012!
I agree…the recipes sound amazing. Hope you enjoy chowing down this year–I’m headed to my fiancee’s for an amazing Christmas celebration. Can’t wait to ditch the diet for a little bit and enjoy a feast! Merry Christmas and safe travels!
@Jon- Free Money Wisdom- Oh I’ve ditched the diet a long time ago. I feel like a glutton and hopefully I can shed some of this weight I’ve gained from eating so much chocolate and biscotti! Merry Christmas
Happy holidays to you too! Looking forward to interacting with your blog in 2012.
@jim syyap- Thanks! Have a great holiday.
Y&T Merry X-Mas to you as well !!
I’ve really enjoyed connecting with you this year, and we shall see you on Wednesday for the big Vancouver PF Gala (with drinks 
It’s going to be fun!
Cheers
The Dividend Ninja
@TDN- Yeah! Merry Christmas! I’ve enjoyed connecting with you too (and enjoyed seeing your pretty blog of course)!
Mint.com tells me that I spent about $435 on gifts. Way more than I would like to – I did make a bunch of gifts, but some of the spending was on items to make those gifts and package them. I had to buy for Mom, Dad, Sister, Boyfriend, and Roommate 1 and 2. Roommate 1 got the biggest present, because roommate 2 and I paid to help finish her picket fence in the front yard, and roommate 2 talked me into buying 3 segments of picket instead of 2… (at $25/segment).
@Kellen- Awe, did Roommate 1 and 2 like your presents? Yeah, I didn’t want to spend $400 either, but considering that the average is $1200 or something ridiculous like that, we did pretty good!
Roommate #2 has already bought his game with his giftcard and seems happy as a clam. Roommate #1 doesn’t seem to be ever grateful for anything, and is classically conditioning me not to enjoy giving gifts to anyone. I wish I hadn’t put so much into a gift for her, but it was really to help our Roommate #2, who wanted to give her the gift of the WHOLE fence being fixed.
@Kellen- Roommate #1 sounds like he/she needs to learn to receive