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Ask the Patch Pro: Local Experts Answer Your Holiday Budgeting Questions

Our panel of experts are waiting in the comments to answer your questions about shopping and maintaining a budget during the holidays in the latest installment of Ask the Patch Pro.

It's time for another edition of Ask the Patch Pro, where each week we tackle a different topic and open up the comments section for questions. Our team of experts stop in to help you out and answer your questions.

This week we're talking about sticking to a budget for the holiday shopping season. Patch wants to help find the answers to all your questions about wise holiday spending, but we needed a little help. 

We've compiled a team of experts to help us out. Meet the experts:

  • Jerri Stroud: Editor, Better Business Bureau 
  • Anna Boulware: Professor of Accounting at St. Charles Community College and SCC's Program Coordinator of the Business Administration Department

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gonzales9@cs.com December 13, 2012 at 01:51 pm
How can I afford a trip to Cancun during the Christmas holidays for a family of 8?
gonzales9@cs.com December 13, 2012 at 01:52 pm
How can I afford a trip to Cancun during the holidays for a family of 8 on $1000?
Anna Boulware December 13, 2012 at 03:46 pm
Hi. Here is a link that has a pretty great deal on a vacation package in Mexico-for four people, four nights but, you are on your own for airfare. Buy two of the packages for under $700...check it out. (You would have to go after January 5 though...Hey, what a great christmas present! (Better yet, why not leave the kids and just you and your wife go...Now, that sounds like a great vacation!) Two links attached. One is for the general website that has awesome travel deals and the other is for the specific vacation referred to above. Good luck!
http://www.livingsocial.com/escapes/532902-puerto-vallarta-resort http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/859-st-charles-county/escapes
Monika G December 13, 2012 at 03:52 pm
How much is appropriate to spend on teenage children at Christmas time?
Jerri Stroud December 13, 2012 at 03:56 pm
There is no set amount you should spend on teenagers. It depends on your circumstances - income, expenses, family precedents. Talk with other family members and arrive at an amount everyone is comfortable with. Remember: It's not the amount spent but the thought behind the gift that's important.
Jordan Lanham (Editor) December 13, 2012 at 07:35 pm
I have three siblings and we've discussed drawing names at Christmas time so we don't have to spend so much. The idea always ends up getting tossed out because some of us feel it becomes impersonal/ just exchanging money. What are some other creative ways to make sure you have something thoughtful for everyone on your list in a big family?
Patti Agnew December 13, 2012 at 08:57 pm
One year my family drew names and instead of a gift you had to write down 3 things you would like to do for an outing, fave restaurants, sport etc. The person who picked you had to plan a "date" with the person, just the 2 of you. Set a specific date and time so it does not get forgotten or "put off"
Jordan Lanham (Editor) December 13, 2012 at 08:58 pm
What a neat idea! Thanks for sharing Patti! :)
Jerri Stroud December 13, 2012 at 08:59 pm
That's a great idea, Patti!
Jerri Stroud December 13, 2012 at 09:01 pm
You could offer a service to each other - taking turns visiting an elderly relative, for example, or cooking a meal, an hour of baby-sitting or something like what Patti suggested below.
Jordan Lanham (Editor) December 13, 2012 at 09:49 pm
Thank you for the suggestion Jerri! My family would probably laugh if I offered to cook for them, but doing something nice to help a family member is a great idea! :)
Just Saying December 14, 2012 at 02:21 am
As three adult siblings with adult children, their spouses, kids and grandkids, it was impossible to continue to get together and give nice gifts to everyone, even drawing names for the younger ones and doing gift exchanges was not within everyones reach. Our family holiday gathering starts with plenty of food and laughs and continues on to our gift exchange, now is made up of many, many assorted "Rob your Neighbor" gifts and at least one loud hour of knock down, drag out fun! Everyone loves it and at the end, no one goes away empty handed! Just full of food, fun and happy memories!
Jordan Lanham (Editor) December 14, 2012 at 02:59 pm
Another great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Bette J Glynn December 14, 2012 at 04:05 pm
All great ideas!!
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Mary Mackey June 19, 2013 at 05:40 pm
Good question and one that has been asked many times. It seems all they do is tear buildings downRead More and leave empty lots. I've lived in O'Fallon all my life and it is sad to see. I would like to see something like St.Charles has,with small diners,craft and antique stores. A small walking path through the area would be awesome and something people could enjoy. Renovating the historical Krekel Home into a museum also needs to be done.
Jim Frain June 17, 2013 at 08:17 am
I rest my case that there are nearly not enough comments on articles that we read in the Patch...IRead More asked for a comment, got no comment.
PMS June 19, 2013 at 12:22 pm
I agree Jim. I am one of those who do comment and I do wish that more people would. I guess thatRead More is why our country is in the shape it is in. Not enough people that have minds of their own.
Jim Frain June 13, 2013 at 04:55 pm
This is an important opportunity for all residents who want to have input on Civic Park and theRead More changes that they want to see now that Civic Hall is gone. The men and women of the city council and parks department who are making these decisions need to hear from us.
Patrick Breyne June 18, 2013 at 09:05 am
The O'Fallon Parks and Recreation Advisory board encourages all residents to come out on the 20th toRead More view the proposed plans for Civic Park & Civic Hall. A couple of great ideas will be presented keeping in mind both the history of Civic Hall/Park and the current and future recreation needs of all of the the citizens of O'Fallon. We need your input!
Jim Frain June 14, 2013 at 10:59 am
This will be a wonderful ceremony and a fitting tribute to the brave and honorable men and women whoRead More served their country in the Vietnam War. I look forward to seeing many O'Fallon Veteran's and residents attending the ceremony on June 22nd.
Jordan Lanham (Editor) June 11, 2013 at 02:46 pm
Thanks for the reminder Jim! Sounds like the perfect concert to kick off summer!
Jim Frain June 12, 2013 at 09:05 am
A Great "Love the Beatles" crowd last night at Civic Park...We all had fun...the City ofRead More O'Fallon does a great job in putting a nice, relaxing and family oriented concert for all of us. O'Fallon Jammin' is a great thing to do every tuesday all summer.
Jim Frain June 7, 2013 at 12:51 pm
We all need to get out there to cheer the Rascals on to some long extended victories!
Mike Kromer June 7, 2013 at 08:52 pm
Agreed...love watching a good ballgame, even a bad one, on a warm summer evening!
Joe Barker (Editor) June 3, 2013 at 03:31 pm
She's on vacation at the moment. When she returns she'll still be here, but in a different role.Read More Instead of just working with O'Fallon, she'll be working with multiple Patch sites across St. Louis. While she's doing other things, Tammy Duncan and I will be posting often around here. Basically Jordan is still very much involved, but she just won't be writing as many stories.
Malarkey Jones June 4, 2013 at 01:05 pm
We've been away from O'fallon for a couple years but plan to return next summer...please tell meRead More they have put in a Chick-Fil-A in O'fallon!! That is fantastic news...can't wait to get back home and see what has changes since we left!
Jason and Mike standing in front of Extreme Gun Care
Michael Linhardt June 4, 2013 at 09:18 am
Congrats! I've met Jason and he is a super nice guy with tons of knowledge about their products.
E. Holloway June 4, 2013 at 10:55 am
Gourew? Try Guru.
Jim Pepper June 3, 2013 at 08:15 am
Joe, any chance they have figured out how to port the past news stories over yet?
Joe Barker (Editor) June 3, 2013 at 09:58 am
@ Jim Pepper -- No word yet. Most of the stories came over just fine, but the stories from earlyRead More last week seem to be stuck. All I know is they are working on it.
Daniel 'Cubby' Moynihan June 4, 2013 at 02:18 am
Just a heads up... while browsing on my phone I have to click leave a comment link above instead ofRead More the box which is typical... just an fyi