3 Easy Ways To Do Christmas On A Budget

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. This is especially true when you are financially smart about it all. Christmas tends to be a sensitive subject for so many, as gifts these days tend to be more expensive. Having a merry little Christmas has become a thing of the past, especially when name brands have something to advertise to you. So, then what can you do to make Christmas easier on you and your budget?

Plan ahead

This one is a stupid simple one. If you are reading this close to Christmas, it probably won’t be one that you are going to be able to use this year. However, come January 1st, it will be time to update your budget. Begin by setting aside $20-$30 every month in a safe place. By the time November rolls around you could have as much as $220-$330 dollars all ready to go for Christmas shopping. Plus, you won’t have to worry about the burden of where the money is going to come from.

Make it thoughtful

Most of the time gifts are going to be expensive, especially when you are buying for kids. They want to newest toy or game, and it adds up fast. However, with other older family and friends it doesn’t have to be that way. In many cases, you reach a certain age where things don’t mean as much. In which case, the sentiment behind the gifts are FAR more important than the actual gift. Thus, it could be a used item from a memory you both shared many years ago that you want to give. It could also be a form of service you could help them with. The sky is literally the limit.

Stay true to yourself

One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves every year is that we can make it work with the purchases. We can be $15,000 in credit card debt, but convince ourselves that a new 74 inch TV is okay to buy! It can also be true when buying for others. We convince ourselves it will be fine to spend a few hundred dollars on one person because of BLANK (insert excuse here). If you can only afford to spend $50, then spend that only. They don’t know what your limit is, and nor will they care (if they are a friend who cares about you). Stay true to yourself.

Christmas doesn’t have to be a terrible thing on your budget. Make is a merry time for others while being able to say, “Ho Ho Hold It!” to excessive spending.

Have a Merry Christmas!