Holiday spending is fun! It’s nice to recognize those we love and share our abundance with them. Overspending at Christmas is not. And, when you’ve had a particularly tough year, you might be extra tempted to overdo it on Christmas spending.
Don’t fall for marketing campaigns that make you feel as if you’re getting a great deal when you’re really not. For example, buy it today and pay for it tomorrow. If this is a hot item, the supply and the good deals will be unlimited.
A trip to NYC to see the Radio City show is fabulous, but you don’t need to do it every year. Kids love baking cookies and wrapping presents for kids who are less fortunate.
Allocate a certain amount of money for each person you plan on buying gifts for and don’t overspend by even a dollar.
Overlooked items such as holiday cards, postage, shipping, office chip-ins and dinners out can quickly add up and demolish your holiday budget.
Don’t even think of using a credit card unless you are 100% sure you can comfortably pay it off at the end of the month. If you can’t, you cannot afford it.
If your shopping cart is overflowing, step back, regroup and make sure you can really afford everything you plan to purchase. Ask yourself why you put everything in the cart and do you really need it?