Christmas is a time of togetherness and tradition –
but it can too easily turn into a financial nightmare. If you’re buying gifts,
planning parties, decorating the house, baking cookies, singing carols, and trying to make sure everyone’s happy,
Christmas gets a little overwhelming. We’ve gathered a few tips to help you
de-stress, save money, and enjoy the season.- Say yes to coupons. Right around Thanksgiving, stores
begin the battle for your business. Most begin printing more coupons than they
know what to do with. Couple that with the ridiculous sales that start Black
Friday weekend keep going through the New Year, and it’s clear that retailers
want you in their stores. Take advantage of that, and don’t be afraid to show
up ready to negotiate, especially for bigger items. That TV could be yours at a
significantly lower price, especially if a competitor is offering a better
discount!
- Decorate simply. There’s no denying how cute the latest Pinterest-inspired decorations are, but
you needn’t pay an arm and a leg for a house full of holiday cheer. Have the kids
and grandkids make
some crafts for this year’s decorating, grab some pinecones and
holly from the backyard, and voila! You’re ready for Christmas in a simple,
sentimental, and relatively free way.
- Break out the china.With more people around during the season, it could be tempting to use paper
plates and plastic utensils. Fewer dishes to clean, less overall stress, but
use this holiday as an excuse to break out the old china that’s been hiding in
the attic for far too long! You’re creating less waste, spending no money, and
everyone will love the heightened level of class you’ve (quite literally) brought
to the table.
- Be resourceful.What can you repurpose for
the holiday season? The DIY trend is in full swing, and Christmas is one of the
best times to jump on the bandwagon. Try turning old Christmas cards into gift
tags, creating popcorn garlands out of movie night’s leftovers, even using
brown bags as wrapping paper. It’s a great way to save money, personalize your
holiday season, and it’s just plain fun!
- Know your audience. We all love the day-after Christmas leftovers, but if it’s a week past and you’re still eating last week’s sweet potatoes, you are making too much food! Save some money and effort by knowing your headcount and planning accordingly. Can’t figure out how much to make for your party of 19? Try a meal calculator to help you decide just how much food you’ll need.
Christmas deserves to be about family, tradition, and
togetherness. Leave the unnecessary stress at the door, and use these tips to
make this Christmas one to remember!
If we at Kemp Harvest Financial Group can
help you in any way with regard to your financial planning needs, please feel
free to contact
us.
For more topics like this, check out our radio show
“Retirement Plain and Simple” every Saturday morning at 8 on WNPV 1440 AM
and like
us on
Facebook!
Securities and advisory services offered through
National Planning Corporation (NPC), Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment
Adviser. Kemp Harvest Financial Group® and NPC are separate and unaffiliated
companies and are independently owned and operated. NPC does not provide tax or
legal advice. NPC # 102299 12/17
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