4 Easy Tips to Survive the Christmas Crunch

The Christmas holiday season is supposed to be a wonderful time for you and your family. But, sometimes, the stresses leading up to the holidays make it seem like quite the opposite. Remember that there are ways to enjoy yourself and survive the holiday crunch even in poor economic times.

Saving Money

Chances are you will be spending money during this holiday season. Through careful planning, you can make a small budget go quite a long way.

Consider the following holiday money-saving suggestions:

1. Conserve Throughout the Year. Most women let the holidays creep up on them. Suddenly, they realize it is only weeks before the holidays, and they need to start preparing. You cannot pull money out of nowhere, and you should resist the urge to put all of your purchases on credit. If you have done this in the past, you know first hand that you may still be paying for last year's gift charges for years!

* Try automatically withdrawing a small sum of money from every paycheck that goes into Christmas savings. Even small amounts will add up to something big come the end of year.

2. Go Shopping Early. If you shop early, you avoid the worries of crowds and urgency of making decisions quickly. Start by creating a file of gift ideas for each person. As you see these items during the year, you can pick them up. You may even find that they are less expensive in off-peak times than during that holiday rush.

3. Make Handmade Gifts. When money is extra tight, consider giving your loved ones handmade gifts. These gifts are given straight from your heart. They create memories to last a lifetime and are important reminders that the holiday season is not just about spending money.

4. Shop for Deals. It can end up taking more time, so be sure to do your homework when it comes to shopping for deals. Prices vary greatly from store to store. Fortunately, the internet can be your best friend when it comes to finding the best deals. It lets you comparison shop in the comfort of your own home, quickly and easily.

* When you are shopping online, remember to stay safe. If you have not heard of the website you are purchasing from, make sure you are on a secure server. Do additional research into the company. Look at reviews and opinions.

Set Up a Budget

Whether or not you have saved throughout the year, it is always a great idea to put yourself on a stringent budget. Give yourself a whole dollar amount. Decide how much of your total dollar amount you will spend on each person. When you need funds for decorating, entertaining, food, or other things, be sure to account for that too.

Consider occasionally checking in with yourself, making sure that you are remaining on budget. While it may be extra work, it will save you stress in dealing with huge credit debt next year.

Dealing With Stress

When stress from the holidays gets you down, you are certainly not alone. It is not fun to deal with the financial aspect. It will help if you keep the magic of the season in mind.

If you have spent your money well, and your family peacefully gets through the holidays, then you have done your job. You will be adding to the memories. Remember that you cannot put a price on memories. If you keep that positive goal in mind, it will be worth any stress you have to endure.

You got this! Merry Christmas!!

Coach Sandra

“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!” – Charles Dickens

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