Today I’m continuing my email series with Part 2 of my Top 10 Holiday Budget Savers!
I hope you enjoyed the previous five tips – I know you’ll love the five I’ve put together to ‘wrap’ up this series – sorry, bad pun!
- Heavy wallet, big stockings. Gifts under the tree can be costly, but for little ones, nothing beats a plump Christmas stocking full of sweets and treats. But what if you have four kids? That will add up quickly if you’re not careful!
Luckily, there are hundreds of great stocking stuffer ideas that you can make or buy. It goes to show you can make Christmas magic regardless of budget. Why not write small notes to your children about what they’ve achieved this year – and how proud of them you are? Children value attention over money, and a mix of these personal notes with treats will make it a holiday to remember. - High gas prices, but not for you! At this time of year, most online stores will offer free shipping, so take advantage. If you are not a member of Amazon Prime, take advantage of their free trial a month before the holidays to get 1-2 day free shipping. You don’t even have to put shoes on or warm up the car!
- Shhhhh! Don’t get carried away if you have a big family or work in a large office with tons of folks you barely know! The easiest solution to this problem is organizing a White Elephant or Secret Santa gift exchange. Depending on how many of these events you attend, you could even be sneaky and keep unwanted gifts from previous holidays and recycle them.
- Pass on expensive greeting cards. Truthfully, most folks don’t pay attention to the Christmas cards they receive. Instead of paying $6 for a single Hallmark card, opt for thrifty bulk packs from dollar stores, print cards online, or even better – consider saving the environment with free eCards.
- Early bird gets the gingerbread worm. The best tip of all is to start early. Start tucking away money monthly for the holidays. $50 a month works out to $600, which can be more than enough for a small family if you play your greeting cards right. For a large family, $150 a month equals $1800 – a huge help with some of the big-ticket items teens love to ask for!
I hope my holiday tips have you tucking extra money away into your own personal stocking! Christmas doesn’t have to be a means of financial stress.
I know Christmas isn’t the only moment in our lives that can cause financial worry, so reach out to us online or by phone at 513-563-PLAN (7526) to set up a 15-minute chat to go over what’s on your mind.
That might be the best gift you can give yourself this year!
