How To Make the Holidays Memorable Without Breaking the Bank
For many years I dreaded the holiday season. Scrooge and The Grinch were totally my vibe. Working full-time, raising kids, and trying to be a good wife, mother, friend, and family member is more than enough for anyone’s plate. Add to the mix a spouse who works in the ski industry and you have just created an annual panic attack with all the holiday planning, shopping, gift-giving, shipping, card-sending, cooking, baking, wrapping, hosting, decorating, party attending, and other holiday “stuff”. So, over the years, I have learned to streamline and figure out what is truly important, and conversely, what gets a big fat “no” this time of year. Additionally, since I am very focussed on smart spending habits, I have developed a system that works for our family financially and also feels good. My 14-year-old son recently told me that Christmas is his favorite holiday and that made me smile since I’ve worked so hard to make it special without all the ridiculous stress and overspending. So, I’m sharing with you my top tips and tricks in hopes I can help you to have better holidays this year.
Make a list of what brings you joy this time of year. This is really simple and shouldn’t take long. I suggest you keep your list to the very most important things to you. Having a list of 120 things is not going to help. Try for 10.
Get out your calendar. Now that you have your list of favorite holiday joyful things, make sure each one is accounted for in your calendar. Like to bake cookies? What day will you do that? Like to have your favorite aunt over to decorate the tree? When is that going to happen? Want to watch Elf with your kids and some of their friends? Get all the things on your calendar!
Know your budget and stick to it. Create your holiday gift list. Who are you buying a gift for? How much are you spending on each person? Are you doing holiday activities that cost extra money? Hosting a party? Get everything down, give it a dollar amount, and stick to it! Track your spending. Don’t be tempted to add to your list. Nothing makes the holidays more of a letdown than getting the spending hangover in January.
Make memories. I constantly remind myself that people don’t remember that you gave them “stuff”, they remember that you thought of them and were kind enough to reach out and spread holiday cheer. And, even better, if you can give them a special memory, that lasts a lifetime. Jot down a few ways you can make a special memory for your friends and family and get it on the calendar!
Have a potluck party. Again, you don’t have to break the bank or be Martha Stewart this time of year to be a holiday hero. Just get everyone together and celebrate the season. Think of a menu or theme and ask people to bring specific dishes so everything is accounted for ahead of time. Potlucks save time and money and also give those with allergies or dietary restrictions an opportunity to bring something they can enjoy.
Free fun is plentiful. There are tons of free fun activities this time of year. Search them out. You don’t have to spend money to get into the holiday spirit. Try to get a free fun activity on the calendar each week of the holiday season.
Make gifts. What are you really good at doing? What do you enjoy? Can you turn this into a handmade gift? I make really great Kahlua brownies. I made a brownie kit for some of my favorite neighbors one year. Do you love pets? Can you give a coupon for free dog sitting? Get creative. This is the time of year to put your heart into it instead of buying cheap crap that means nothing.
Donate time. Are you able to spend a day doing something charitable? Get the whole family involved. There are plenty of people in need this time of year. Give back by giving your time. This will probably be your favorite holiday memory.
Donate stuff. I made a rule for my kids when they were young. Santa doesn’t bring presents unless you give the toys you don’t play with anymore to a child in need. This helps to clear out clutter and it also sends an important message. Make way for the new by donating to those who need it. Of course, donating money to a cause you believe in is also wonderful, but sometimes we can’t afford to give money. Time and stuff are still appreciated and needed everywhere.
I hope this helps you to have a more rewarding holiday season. By doing a little upfront work now, you can feel less hectic and pressured to spend money when you are in a pinch for time. If you have other tips and tricks to add to this, I’d love to hear from you. And, let me know if any of this information is helpful to you. I wish you a happy holiday season and a healthy/prosperous new year to you and your family!
If you’d like to talk about this or anything else money-related, schedule a free 15-minute call with me here.