Tis the season to be jolly … well, at least in theory, right?
The month of December and all of the festive fun that accompanies it may just be my favorite time of the year.
My youngest was born in December too so it is just a special, albeit expensive month all around.
The cost of having a magical December can add a lot of stress to our already overflowing plates and I talk to so many people who are overwhelmed at the idea of how to pay for all that darn magic.
It can really take the joy right out of what is supposed to be a season of magic and wonder
As my gift to you, here are some simple living hacks to hopefully make your holiday season a little less stressful and less expensive.
Savvy Spending: Don’t sacrifice the essential bills you have to pay — things such as your mortgage, rent, utilities and other necessities — for the sake of impressing someone with a fancy Christmas gift.
If you do not already have one, make a budget for the month and be sure to account for all things you will need money for.
This includes housing costs such as your mortgage/rent as well as utilities and phone bills.
Consider your grocery budget and add any additional amount you may need for those Christmas parties, holiday potlucks or class parties.
Now, set a budget for gifts.
Know what you have to spend on gifts and stick to it — no one is going to be looking at the price tag of that gift — they are just going to be grateful that you thought of them!
Stretch your budget: Last year, as I was in the midst of my online shopping, one of the online sites offered me a “Pay in 4” plan — I was pretty strapped for cash and trying to stay within budget but I gave it a try.
I paid one quarter of the total cost of my cart that day, another quarter two weeks later and then the remaining quarters over the subsequent two week intervals.
The beauty of the entire transaction was that I did not pay any additional interest fees — it just let me stretch my payments into the month of January.
If this is a solution for you, look for options like Afterpay, Klarna and Affirm during the checkout process of many popular online merchants,
Word to the wise: Still stick to that budget we talked about but use the extra time to make sure you are still able to keep up with other things on your December budget, too!
Get Creative: In some years, when my budget has been slimmer than others, I have done homemade gifts or done small themed gift bags.
Find a fun recipe that you can make with your loved ones and get some festive packaging from your favorite dollar store.
If you think other members of your family are game, consider a white elephant exchange — which is always a hoot — or draw names to focus on one significant gift rather than a bunch of smaller ones.
Consider asking your loved ones to chip in cash or unwanted but still useful house items to do a Chrristams games day with fun prizes.
Remember this: The gift of time with your loved ones is all they really need!
Strategize that Shopping List: We do this to ourselves each year when we insist we will cut back on our spending and shopping but somehow, we get caught up in the seasonal inertia (I blame all those Christmas carols) and open our wallets to the point of assured debt.
When you make your holiday list, write down at least three things that remind you of your recipient. For example, their favorite candy, favorite color and favorite pet breed
Use these fun details to come up with a thoughtful but still within budget gift that will show you care — even if it didn’t cost you next month’s grocery budget!
When I am shopping, I already have an idea what I am looking for and won’t grab those impulse gifts that might not be the best match.
Stay on Schedule: I have learned to follow a budget very well through the years but when it comes to staying on my meal planning schedule, this is where the holiday season gets me!
It is such a busy season with so many activities happening — that by the time I get through the busy work day and any evening activities, that meal I planned to make that night is just not happening!
So, rather than cook, I order a budget-busting carry-out meal — and in some cases, let perfectly good produce and meat in the fridge go to waste so I can have an easy night.
It is an easy trap to fall into! If this sounds like you, think about how you can stay the course.
Would spending an extra hour on Sundays doing some meal prep keep you on course to follow that menu planning — or are you just better off budgeting for those extra nights of pizza and Chinese food now!
You know your family and holiday habits best — just make sure you prepare for it and add it to that budget!
No matter how you spend your December, I wish you such a joyful and sweetly simple one!
(Editor’s Note: Kristine George is a freelance journalist who resides in Easton.)