Skip to main content

'Tis the Season....to be BROKE!

It happens every time...each year when the holiday season rolls around and we don’t have enough money, we resolve that next year, it will be different — we will have enough money saved up to spend for the holidays — it won’t be this way.  But what happens?  Next year comes before we have had a chance to save any money for our holiday spending.  Below are 15  fabulous tips for holiday spending.

Budget your holiday spending.  Decide how much you can afford and stay within that budget.
Make a list and check it twice.  Come up with a gift idea and spending range for each person you want to buy for.  Make a list and stick to it.
Curb your spending.  Opt for  some low-cost, but attractive gifts.  You can still be that fabulous gift-giver without breaking the bank.
Be the early bird.  Shop before the official holiday season begins.  This will give you time to comparison shop and reap cool bargains.
Don’t be your own Santa.  You are shopping for others, NOT yourself.
Avoid frenzy spending.  Crowded starts and Christmas bargains lead to “frenzy spending”.  Avoid overspending by avoiding crowded retail days (like the day after Thanksgiving) and sticking to your shopping list. 
Plan a route.  Know where you are going and how you are going to navigate your day ahead of time.
Relax and pace yourself.  Take a deep breath and relax.  Rushing can lead to poor purchasing.
Avoid “credit facilities”.  During the holiday season, many credit card companies offer deferred billing.  If you can’t pay for it now, what makes you think you can pay for it then?
Pay with cash.  Take your budgeted amount of cash with you — when it’s gone, you should have all of your gifts.
Don’t go deeper in debt.  Avoid using your credit card to overspend.  Go on a debt diet!
Put your talents to use.  If you are the “artsy/craftsy” type, use your creative skills in making gifts for your loved ones.
Gift certificates.  These are a perfect way to manage your finances.  It gives your loved ones an opportunity to pick out exactly what they want.
Plan for next year.  Discipline yourself to save.  Take advantage of a Christmas Club account.
Give your best.  Don’t be stressed by your lack of finances.  Make memories and spend time with your loved ones.

“No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.”   Matthew 6:24

I'm just sayin',


Comments

Chris Barnette said…
good advice Benita :-) I use a lot of those tips, especially setting a limit and shopping early. I usally spent 5$ on mens gifts and 10$ tops for women. You would be surpised what you can get on sale with those limits, I also shop through out the year and look for stuff on clearance. Hey when you have over 20 people to shop for you gotta be frugal lol. Also get itune gift cards (they are on sale for B friday) for the teenagers and look at the sales papers for other cheap stuff..Good stuff I hope everyone remembers to keep Christ in Christmas :-)
Tuesday, November 16, 2010 11:07:00 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Future of Farm Town

If you are an active member of Facebook, you are more than likely familiar with, on an intimate basis, a game called Farm Town. Farm Town is a virtual farm. You plow your land, plant your crops and reap the rewards (coins) of selling those crops at harvest time. You even have the ability to "prostitute" yourself in the village market by offering to harvest other farmers' crops. You can sell your farm for larger farms, purchase silos, waterwells, logs, barrels, pigs, chickens, roosters, goats....you get the picture. You beg your "farming" friends to send you gifts of animals and trees so that you will not have to make these expensive purchases yourself. After all, you are saving your coins so that you can buy that farming mansion and pond you've been lusting after on the neighboring farm. However, the future of Farm Town may be compromised. My son called earlier to let me know Facebook had a new virtual farm game called Farm Ville. He's at level ...
10 comments
Read more

21st Century Technology

Sometimes, living in the 21st Century, isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sure, electronic technology is great. But have you ever sat down and pondered exactly what has been laid to the wayside by electronic technology? Letter writing – I can send you an e-mail, any time night or day, but it doesn’t seem as personal as sitting down and writing my thoughts to a friend or loved one, in my own hand-writing. It takes a little more time, but it is well worth the effort. Christmas, birthday, get well cards, etc. – When was the last time you actually mailed a birthday card, Christmas card, get well card or “thinking about you today” card? I mailed cards this past Christmas and will hold tight to this tradition for as long as I am able. A personalized electronic card is nice as is an e-mail full of well-wishes for the holiday and New Year, but again, there is something quite special about receiving that personalized card in the mail. And don’t you just love finding things in your mailbox t...
3 comments
Read more

You Don't Know Jack!

No, I may not know Jack, but I definitely know the speed limit around town. Two weeks ago, while still in my euphoric fog from visiting Cameras Brookwood (which it's really not in Brookwood anymore so they should probably change the name), a Homewood police officer had the audacity to pull me over....for speeding! It always amazes me how idiotic most police officers sound when they pull you over. They say things such as "did you know you have a tail light out?"....yes, I do and I'm on my way to purchase the bulb to replace it; "did you know you have an expired tag?"....yes, I know, I received the new sticker in the mail today and haven't been able to get home to paste it on over the old one, see, here it is; "did you know you were speeding?"....obviously not or I would have slowed down before I reached the location of your radar gun. SHEESH....if you are a police officer reading this, PLEASE come up with more original lines. You sound like the...
5 comments
Read more