The Holiday’s brings a lot of pressure to buy gifts, throw parties, host guest, and many other financial responsibilities. Everyone’s coins does not always support what your heart wants to give this Holiday season. Let me be the first one to tell you, “It is OK!” There are many ways that you can express your love for family, friends, and your significant other without going broke.
Tips:
#1: Create a financial plan that is projected three months out past the Holiday’s.
This will ensure that you not only financially survive the Holiday’s but the following months to come.
#2: Pick a limited number of friends, family members, and one significant other to buy gifts for.
This will help you budget for the Holiday’s because you will already know who you are purchasing for.
#3: Have the selected people you’re buying gifts for create a wish list that includes affordable items under your desired spending budget that you created in tip #1.
This will help you to select one item for each person. Then select the gifts that meets your budget. If the items go over your budget please limit the list further or suggest gifts that are in your price range.
#4: Express to people that YOU ARE NOT SANTA CLAUS and your bills will be due in December, January, and every other month after that.
It is ok to inform others that your coins are not unlimited but you want to do your best to buy gifts but that doesn’t mean it will happen. It will be tempting to go ahead and buy everyone gifts and wait on your tax refund check but this is a mental and financial trap. Please remember that life always throws curve balls and your car is more than likely waiting on your refund check as well so it will all of a sudden start running hot. I have seen many people that spend money they do not have which lands them in a financial hole. This is your opportunity to change your spending habits and form new healthy spending habits.
Financial stress can lead to anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and many other harmful mental health issues. This year I want you to reclaim your financial freedom and prevent putting yourself in debt. Please do not let shame, guilt, or pride prevent you from living within your means. If the individual you want to buy gift for is not understanding of your financial position then it may be helpful to reevaluate that relationship. No friend, family member, or significant other should want you to create debt just so they can get an extravagant gift. There will be many more Holiday’s for you to ball out and buy everyone everything but that doesn’t have to happen every year.
For Holiday Gift Ideas and Decorating Ideas on a budget please visit these links:
https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/gifts/g2127/cheap-christmas-gifts/
https://www.pinterest.com/gcgirlfriend/christmas-gift-ideas/
https://www.moneyunder30.com/cheap-gifts-55-inexpensive-christmas-gifts
https://www.thriftyfrugalmom.com/20-cheap-easy-homemade-gift-ideas/
http://www.midwestliving.com/holidays/thanksgiving/easy-ideas-for-thanksgiving-decorating/?page=3
https://www.lizmarieblog.com/2014/12/how-to-frugally-quickly-decorate-for-christmas/
https://www.rd.com/home/decorating/cheap-christmas-decorations/
