Have a Budget Christmas
November 05 2013
|
SPEAKING with a friend over tea, Carolina lamented, “I can’t believe that Christmas is almost here. I’m still paying off credit card debt from last year’s purchases. Every year the month of December puts me deeper in debt.”
Carolina’s experience is one shared by many during December. Each year most people spend hundreds of dollars and some accrue expenses in the thousands to celebrate December 25.
However, with a weakened economy and higher unemployment in many countries around the world, more and more people are reconsidering how much they need to spend in order to celebrate the holiday. With some careful thought and planning, you can experience a Christmas which brings more joy but not leave you with more debt. Here are thirteen ways to have a budget friendly Christmas.
Focus on the spiritual
Remember the reason for the season. December is a time for the giving and receiving of love, not merely a time of gift exchanges. The reason for the season is to exhibit and experience spiritual gifts of love, joy, peace, goodness, compassion and good will toward all. “I don’t think Christmas is necessarily about things,” says American actress Carrie Fisher. “It’s about being good to one another, it’s about the Christian ethic, it’s about kindness.” Begin planning for a budget friendly Christmas by placing your focus on the spiritual rather than the material side of the holiday.
Put a little Scrooge
Make a budget... and stick to it. Here you have to put a little ‘Scrooge’ into your holiday plans. One financial planner tells his clients to “end misguided generosity.” He says the way to “avoid buyer’s remorse in January is to embark on a reasonable holiday shopping in December.”
Prepare a list
Write out the names of people you plan on giving a gift. “Research has shown that on average, people spend more when they’re shopping without a list,” says Deborah Mitchell, a clinical professor of marketing at the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University in Columbus. “You don’t want to be out there reacting to sales like a ping-pong ball,” she adds, stressing the importance of preparing a list. After you make that list, check it a few times and prune it down. Do you really need to send a gift to a childhood friend whom you haven’t seen in ten years?” Perhaps a few words of love and appreciation on a card would be sufficient and certainly cost effective.
Have a budget
Guide your shopping by these letters: WWWD. They stand for ‘What Would The Wealthy Do?’ It is surprising to many that people of wealth are very careful about holiday shopping. They know the value of money, and therefore use their money wisely by shopping for sale items only. This was a lesson learned by Marina who says, “I have a friend who comes from a very wealthy family. I was shocked when she invited me to go shopping with her at an outlet centre where prices are much lower than in a traditional shopping mall. Furthermore, she kept referring to her ‘budget’ for the holiday. My friend was very disciplined in her approach to gift buying.” So, before beginning you holiday shopping, ask yourself, “What would the wealthy do?” Then, do the same. Shop sales; have a budget; and abide by it.
One gift per family
Buy one gift for a family. Rather than buy gifts for every member of a family, consider purchasing one gift all of them can enjoy. “Board games make great family gifts,” says Riccardo, who adds, “I have a beloved neighbour family of four people. Two years ago at Christmas I gave them a board game. They told me they loved it because suddenly they began spending a lot of time together playing it.”
Recycle items
One woman does a great deal of her holiday shopping at used book stores. “I look for books which are like new and give them out at Christmas. My friend who loves mysteries gets a couple of good thriller books. Another friend, who loves cooking, gets a fine cookbook. Yet another friend who enjoys biographies of actors gets a couple of those from me. It’s low cost but yields high pleasure for my friends.”
Shop sales
Even during the month of December most retailers offer many goods at reduced prices. Look for those. If you have a cell phone, use it to compare prices. There are many shopping ‘apps’ available to do price comparison. Download a few of those and before you buy anything search out where you can get the best price.
Pay cash
One man says: “I pay cash. No exceptions. And, no post-holiday worries about credit card payments.” The most effective way of doing a cash only holiday is to begin saving money early. However, even if you want to start paying cash this very December, go ahead and do it. Determine how much discretionary cash you can spare and stay within that amount. This forces you to get very creative as you buy.
Split the set
“Who says a gift box of eight scented candles has to stay together?” notes Elvira. “With this tough economy, I’m very fond of buying sets and splitting them, making them gifts for several people. I just bought a beautiful set of six coffee mugs. I’ll fill each one with chocolates, wrap each mug and have six gifts to give.”
Switch to E-Cards
“I lost my job in October and I am still seeking work,” says Frederick. “Even though I’m unemployed I still want to remember family, friends and colleagues during the holiday. To save money, I’m sending e-cards rather than traditional Christmas cards. I selected free online e-cards and will send those this year. In the past it’s cost me hundreds of dollars to buy the cards along with postage.” If you are reluctant to consider this, feeling it’s impersonal to send holiday greetings this way, consider this advice from American etiquette authority Peggy Post. She was asked by a reader: “I’ve been receiving lots of holiday e-cards and feel somewhat slighted by the quick click gesture. Is it rude to send Yuletide greetings over the web?” Post answered, “Concentrate on the kind sentiments and don’t take offense. E-cards are a reality of today’s world. They’re the only way many people have time or money to send holiday wishes. Plus they’re eco-friendly. They don’t waste paper and don’t have to be shipped.”
Rethink traditions
“Our extended family used to do a big holiday gift swap,” recalls Victoria. “That meant my husband and I were obligated to buy dozens of presents for relatives we’d met once or twice and seldom see.” So Victoria and her husband suggested the entire extended family rethink this tradition. All agreed to exchange gifts only with immediate family and only send a holiday greeting card to extended family members.
Tap into your talents
Tap into your talents. Rather than buy a gift, present some of your family and friends with a ‘coupon’ offering your skill and service. For example, if you’re a massage therapist, offer a free massage. If you’re good with tools and repairs, offer to do one home repair. Other welcome ‘coupons’ include such diverse talents as car detailing, room painting, animal grooming, child care, hair styling, pet sitting, landscaping, window washing, sewing, computer instruction, room organizing.
Take a seasonal job
Consider increasing your holiday income by taking on a seasonal job at a store where you like to shop. One woman says she does this every holiday season. “I usually work just ten to fifteen hours a week during December. I not only make some extra money, but become eligible for a forty percent discount on purchases. For me this is a win-win situation in December – more money and lower cost gift buying!”
Finally, keep reminding yourself the true reason for the season – a time to honour the birth of Christ. The holidays are a time to reflect on the extravagant love of God for humanity and to share love with family, friends, colleagues and even strangers. The holidays are not about depleting our energy, spirits and bank accounts.
KEEPING CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS
This Christmas let’s keep Jesus at the centre of our celebrations. Here are ten ideas that can help connect hearts and homes to Him.
Think ahead to how you might prepare for Advent in the home. See what each person in the family can contribute.
Give God one very special gift just from you to Him. Maybe your gift could be to forgive someone, or to give something up, etc.
Set aside a special time to read the Christmas story in Luke 1:5-56 through to 2:1-20.
Set up a Nativity Scene in your home.
Plan a project of good will this Christmas: do you have an elderly neighbour in need of home repairs? Can you give something to a charity?...
Give a surprise gift of service to each member of your family: run an errand for your brother, clean out a closet for your mother…
Set aside a time of family devotions on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
Attend Christmas Mass together with your family.
Send Christmas cards or e-cards that convey a spiritual message.
Write a Christmas letter to a missionary, encouraging them and thanking them for giving their life in the service of the Lord.
Updated on October 06 2016