Curb your Cravings and Clamp down on Spending at Christmas

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

December 24, 2022 – Christmas, it’s the season when some scream with joy at their presents and others because their pocketbooks go dry.  For many, the balancing act between making Christmas a good holiday for our young ones and even the old ones and not overspending is a tough one.  There are some ways to keep the spending under control and keep everyone happy.

Remember the reason for the season.

Even though Christmas has evolved into a huge commercial holiday, its true meaning is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift of all.

When your kids come up with a mile long list, talk to them about budgeting and allow them to revamp their list with only the things they want the most and keep revamping until the list is within your ability to afford.  Be honest with your children about what you can and can’t afford.

You’ll find children are far more perceptive and understanding of ‘grown-up issues’ then we often give them credit for.

Try not to go off on aimless shopping sprees.  Christmas is a time when every store wants to sell out all of the items they have stock and sales and look very attractive even for things you don’t need.  Make a list of all the presents that you need and their cost and do your best to stick to that list.  If you see something that isn’t on your list but you feel like you can’t live without, make a note of it and save up for half year sales.  Those usually come around in June and July.

Move some money over to your strictly savings account and make a commitment not to touch those funds.

If you still don’t trust yourself to do all of that, get an accountability buddy who will track your finances along with you and make sure you don’t spend out of turn.

Declutter your closet and give away the things that you don’t need.  Taking stock of what you already have may cause you to reconsider any truly frivolous purchases.

Make thoughtful homemade gifts for your family if you can’t afford retail.

Thanks to TikTok and Pinterest everybody can make pro-level looking gifts in short steps.  You may even find a new hobby while you’re at it.

Try not to take on any debt in the Christmas season, that includes using credit cards to purchase presents.  A move advised against by financial experts.  Stick to cash and if you can, save up to get it another time.

Christmas is a very special time and gifts are lovely but Christmas only lasts so long.  Best advice is not to take on debt that will follow you out of the holiday season.

We hope this valuable advice gets to you on time.  Merry Christmas!