Cutting Corners This Holiday Season
The holidays are rough on anyone’s budget, and it is especially unkind to those of us who are trying to dig themselves out of debt. How people can expect you to pay off those student loans and buy enough extravagant gifts for everyone at the same time? Shopping for the holidays only so that you can still be paying it off well in to next July isn’t good for anyone trying to live a debt free lifestyle.
However, there are a few ways that you can avoid overspending this holiday season while still having the holiday season you desire. A few of those ways include:
DIY
While homemade gifts aren’t always appropriate for everyone during the holiday season, they are for most – especially when it comes to host/ hostess gifts. Instead of wasting money on small purchases, which can really add up, consider putting together your favorite cookie mixes or jams in mason jars to show appreciation.
For parents, there are also several great online resources which allow you to create photo books and other forms of memorabilia for cheap. Craft and hobby stores also offer several inexpensive gift ideas. All you have to do is find a phone number for a local store, call them up, and ask for a few ideas. They will be more than willing to help you out.
Delegate to Others
If you house always seems to be the favorite spot for the holidays, you have probably grown to expect to be responsible for all the preparation and meals that are provided. Providing beverages, desserts, and full blown meals can be incredibly expensive, and can quickly put a damper on your holiday budget.
Instead of taking on all the stress and costs of providing meals yourself, consider asking those who will be coming over to your house during the holidays to bring their favorite side dishes, desserts, and beverages. Not only will it help keep your costs low, but it will also give others a good reason to share some of their favorite holiday flavors.
Set Limits
If you find yourself panicking about how you are going to afford a gift for everyone on your list, you can bet that there are a few other people who are feeling the same way. Instead of pulling out your credit card to afford all those holiday gifts, simply ask those within your normal gift exchange if they would feel comfortable setting a limit on gifts. That way you are able to afford a gift for everyone, and no one feels as though they spent way more than anyone else.
The holidays are hard for anyone on a budget, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t shop and give gifts with the rest of them. It simply means that you have to be more resourceful, and a little more innovative when it comes to gift giving.
This post was brought to you by Amanda Green.
We give homemade cards and ornaments from our kids to their grandparents and godparents. I think this is much more meaningful, especially at a young age, than anything you could get from the store. They take time to make but they’re worth it!
To my surprise my mom had ornaments on the tree this year that I made over 20 years ago! I guess those memories live the longest.