While many people were left wondering when (and sometimes how) they were going to pay the stacks of credit card bills from the holiday season, my wife and I boarded a plane to New Orleans for our 3rd anniversary.  Until the we arrived at the airport, she had no idea where we were going.  Until two nights before, she had no idea we were going anywhere at all. (She’s a college professor and was still on break, so I all I had to do was take a few days off.)

I asked her to pack a small suitcase two nights before and let her know that we would be leaving home for a couple of nights for a surprise anniversary trip…She loves surprises, and I love seeing her happy.

I received an e-mail from Southwest Airlines in late October advertising $30-$60 flights to several destinations.  3 or 4 years ago, late October and early November were the months that I began to think about saving and paying for Christmas. I wouldn’t have even considered planning such a trip in early January.

However, for the second year in a row, my wife and I began saving for Christmas one full year in advance.  Each month, we have an automatic transfer set-up from our checking account to our ING Direct “Gift Fund” which covers all birthday and family Christmas gifts.  I can’t describe how awesome it is to reap the intrinsic rewards that smart financial planning can bring you and your family.

Hopefully you aren’t left with credit card bills from the past holiday season, but that isn’t everyone’s reality.  Don’t beat yourself up, you are not alone.  But, with a little effort, you can forgo the post holiday credit card bills by just planning ahead.  And when you are prepared for planned events (Christmas shouldn’t be a surprise…), you are able to take advantage of unexpected opportunities.  And these fun and unexpected opportunities are often what life is all about.

The point of today’s post isn’t about how lucky I consider my family, it’s that March isn’t too early to begin thinking about Christmas. Start now, do yourself a favor and begin creating new habits so that one day you are able to sweep your spouse off his or her feet in a way that only the two of you can appreciate, without a money care in the back of your minds.

I visited frugaldad.com yesterday (one of my favorite pf blogs) and came across the following post, Last Minute Gift Ideas that Don't Require Standing In Line.  There are all kinds of posts floating around about cheap and frugal gift ideas, but as we are getting closer to Christmas, frugaldad's list is full of timely and useful information.  

If you are like me and wait until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping, then you know how hard it can be to find a meaningful gift for your loved ones.  That's why I took the liberty of adding one gift idea that didn't make frugaldad's list:

• baked goods and other home made candy

Baked goods are at the top of the "I'm poor and need a quick, easy, and thoughtful gift" list, and you don’t have to stand in line if you already have the ingredients at home.  My wife and I just handed out some homemade Oreo Truffles to all the aunts, uncles, and grandmothers.  There wasn’t a single recipient who didn’t express genuine appreciation!  For all of you procrastinators who are still wondering what to give that special someone, I have left the recipe for these Truffles below. 

Oreo Truffles

• 1 package of Oreos
• 1 8 oz Package of Cream Cheeese
• 1 Tsp Vanilla
• 1 Package of Almond Bark
• 6 oz Mini Milk Chocolate Chips

Directions:

1. Crush Oreos and mix with cream cheese and vanilla until completely blended.  (We used a food processeor for this step.)
2. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes or until Oreos and cream cheese are somewhat firm.
3. Roll Oreos into balls.
4. Place balls in refrigerator for another 30 minutes.
5. Dip balls into melted almond bark and place on wax paper until almond bark is firm. (If balls are falling apart, then place them in refrigerator until they become more firm.
6. Drizzle melted chocolate chips over each truffle.  (We used a ziplock bag with one corner cut to drizzle the chocolate.)