Hi BFF’s!
The holidays should not be about how much, you spend or how much you receive. It’s being able to spend time with your loved ones, create new memories, and have fun! Especially with this roller coaster of a year. Some of the best gifts are the least expensive. Don’t believe me, ask my husband. If he comes home with a snicker or an apple fritter, it’s just like he walked through the door with two dozen long-stemmed roses. That’s how excited I get.
Now I’m not saying I don’t like flowers, because I do. However, if we’re looking to retire sooner than later, I’ll take a dollar and some change snickers over $40-$50 flowers any day! But I must say, my #mancrushmonday (aka bae) does a great job balancing the two. And that brings us into this week’s post – How to Make the Holidays Memorable – Without Breaking the Bank!
Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa; there is no reason to be broke at the end of the season. CNBC reported Americans in 2019, accumulated roughly $1,300 in holiday debt. On what you ask gift buying, traveling expenses, and other holiday-related costs. You know why it was debt because they failed to plan. These holidays come around the same time every year. What if you started saving for them at the beginning of the year, or the day after the holiday each year. You would have money aside and you won’t accrue additional debt.
I know you are working diligently to pay off the debt you currently have, you don’t want to add to it. If you’re on the get Financially Unbothered bus (cheaper than flying), then let’s roll into 2021 with little to no debt.
Here are 6 ways you can do so:
1. Write out your values and identify what is important to you. Are you working to pay off your car early? Did you want to save $2,000 by the end of the year and are a little short? Are you looking to retire early? – If you answered yes to any of these questions, or the ones you created for you, then spending a lot for the holiday goes against your goals.
2. Create a holiday giving plan – write out who you want to give a gift to and the amount you feel you should spend on them. Add your estimated cost and see if it fits within your budget. If it doesn’t start cutting people off the list and reduce your anticipated gift cost per person. Or as we do in my family, we like secret Santa, this year secret Kwanzaa. We only purchase a gift for one person and our spouse.
3. Get creative with your gifts. Invite 2-3 friends for Brunch or dinner at your place. Or make holiday cakes, cookies, eggnog (coquito), and package it up as a gift.
4. Pay with CASH. Don’t charge your gifts, if you don’t have enough CASH you don’t need to purchase it. If you don’t like carrying cash, put the money on a prepaid gift card, do not use your credit cards or charge cards.
5. Shop sales. Don’t by full-price. Everything gets marked down eventually.
6. Don’t shop for yourself! I know in the past I would buy a gift for someone else and then a gift for (don’t judge). Don’t be like the old me. Stick to the gifts on your pre-written list.
Be diligent and intentional about your spending. God won’t bless you beyond your current state if you do not learn to be a great steward over what he’s already given you.
Ok friends, that’s all I have today. Don’t forget to follow me on IG@_CompletelyUnbothered
