Always overprice when in doubt. This way, you won't be caught without enough money at the supermarket. Don't forget the paper napkins, plasticware, and extra toilet paper. If the budget comes out to be way over what you expected to spend, critically revise your list. Once you're at the supermarket, don't buy anything that's not on the list, unless it's something important that you forgot.
Impulse buys are the bane of a good budget.
Here are some suggestions for decorating for your Christmas party without resorting to plastic lawn elves. Nothing says Christmas like a six-foot pine chopped down and erected in your living room for your holiday enjoyment. Cut off an inch from the bottom of the tree trunk so that it will absorb water better. Then place it in a tree stand that holds at least one gallon of water, and water the tree every day. Before any tree-trimming takes place, spray the tree with an antitranspirant , which will prevent the needles from losing water.