Many of us are either on vacation already or about to go on a vacation for Christmas. With this comes the much added and desired time to go out with friends and family. Unfortunately, during these wonderful festivities it becomes increasingly easy to overspend the hard earned money. We then end the season on a low note due to the increased debt or decreased bank account. Luckily there are some simple things you can do to help keep yourself in check!
1) Avoid Impulse Activities
Sure, it can be difficult to avoid random activities your friends and family want to do. You want to spend time with them and enjoy your time off. However, it is these activities which tend to hurt our wallets the most. We do not account for them in our budgets and spending until after it is too late. If you are able to plan out your vacation time and the activities ahead of time, you will be able to see whether you can afford all of them, or if you may need to suggest alternatives. Your friends and family likely won’t care, they just want to spend time with you!
2) Don’t Over Commit
Planning things out in advance is such a big money saver. However, it can also go too far. Many of us are going to attend some type of party or event during this time. You may have even planned a party yourself. One thing to always keep in mind is the overall cost for these things. If you are planning to have food and some drinks, great! stick to what you planned. Avoid the last minute feelings of needing to buy more presents, desserts, decorations etc. Again, be smart about these things through your plans. The impulsiveness is what will ultimately lead to overspending and more stress.
3) Remember It Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect
This is a generalized statement for everyone. We all have our own “thing” we feel has to be just perfect to make this holiday the best. When in reality this holiday will be what you make of it. If you want it to be filled with joy, then be joyful. Your actions and attitude dictate how things will end up. Everything else is bound to be just below perfect every time. Just accept that. Besides, if it was the perfect Christmas, how are you going to feel next year? Basically, the perfect Christmas will always happen every year if you make it that way.
Money is tight for many this time of year. This is why I want to encourage you all to be smart with your money and not overspend. There is no use in going into more debt or putting a hardship on your household for a few hours of happiness. Happiness is not derived from things, it is derived from people. Things can make you happy, but only a person can actually BE happy.
