Every year for the past three years, we've set out a budget, lowering our Christmas expenses each year, with the goal in mind of significantly decreasing our limit by next Christmas.

However, with the arrival of a new baby at the end of November, and juggling the physical/emotional needs of my sick brother this Christmas (as well as dealing with my own fear of the future where my brother is concerned), we've ended up spending a lot more than anticipated or budgeted. But since this is a "special needs" Christmas for a few family members (especially my brother and our 5-year-old granddaughter [sister to the new arrival] who's afraid of being left out and pushed aside), we've decided to just throw away the budget this year and start over at a lower limit again next year!