Ugh! I need help!
I did this to myself, it has little to due with inflation.
I am a geriatric millennial stuck between 2 generations and stupidly keep my Christmas budget the same every year even though, even outside of inflation, it gets more expensive every year!
My kids are 8 and 11 and what they want is more expensive every year! Also, (this is the part I did to myself) when my oldest was three and his sister barely six months, I did a cute little paper bag a day, advent count down to Christmas. It was fun and filled with Picnic in the Park coupons, dollar store bubbles and candy he never ate from Halloween. Every year it gets more and more expensive as they get older and every year around this time I tell them, you guys are over it, right? No need for our paper bag countdown? They look traumatized at the suggestion but no longer want dollar store bubbles and there is no left over candy!
What do I do? I created a monster!
The budget for them, and everyone else on my list (we draw names for adults on both sides, I also have 6 nieces and nephews combined) stretches less and less each year.
I am having a small panic attack just typing this.
It is only October, please send help!