Christmas Survival Tips
Christmas is a time best spent with family and friends but, unfortunately, it tends to come at a cost – one that puts a dent in your savings and can leave you with an unpleasant chunk of debt. It’s important to keep your finances in mind, otherwise Christmas becomes a stressful time, and suddenly post-Christmas becomes even more stressful when you receive the credit card statement and you’re paying it off well into next year. You want it to be a pleasant time but if it’s going to lead to stress, it defeats the whole purpose.
So if you are one of the many who tend to go a little overboard with Christmas cheer, here are a few tips you can follow that will help you manage your money more effectively.
Have a budget
Having a realistic Christmas budget is the secret – list the names of everyone for whom you intend to purchase gifts and outline your anticipated costs. Don’t be afraid to cut back, and ensure you stick to your budget!
Make it yourself
Awaken your creativity and avoid mall madness altogether. Bake a batch of cookies, sew a personalized tote bag, or give hand made ‘gift vouchers’ offering a gift of your time to family and friends, such as a massage, childcare, cooking a meal or washing their car.
Gift wrap & cards
Another cost that often spirals quickly is that of gift cards and wrapping paper. Try creating some unique and thoughtful cards of your own with craft pieces from discount or dollar stores, and using papers such as Kraft paper, news papers and maps for cheap and effective gift wrapping. If you get stuck for ideas Google and Pintrest have endless images to inspire you!
Start early
Start planning for Christmas early and set up a special Christmas Club Account early in the year (that you can’t readily access). Put a small amount of money in each pay so you have some additional cash for Christmas spending. Post- Christmas sales are a fantastic time to snatch up a bargain and also a good time to buy cheap decorations and wrapping paper for the following year.
Shop online
Finding great savings online has never been easier. Cost comparisons, product ratings, and customer reviews make finding gifts online really quick and easy. The internet can provide you with the information to make an informed decision as to whether the price you’re paying is competitive and reasonable and whether you are actually buying a quality product.
Kris Kringle
Do Kris Kringle or ‘Pick a Gift’ – each person draws a name out of a hat for one other person and only buys that person a present for a set amount. These ideas work particularly well for large families and groups of friends. This way, everyone gets a gift but each person only has to purchase one.
Free holiday activities
Check out online or your local community calendar for free holiday activities and performances such as tree lighting, carols in the park or a parade.
