Five Tips to Plan for Christmas
Every year Christmas seems to sneak up on thousands of people. It comes out of nowhere and leaves us blind sighted by the hundreds of dollars we spend without planning. Well, this year Christmas can be different. This year it won’t sneak up on you. This year you will be prepared because you will have planned for Christmas...in July! Follow the tips below to get you started on your Christmas planning and avoid the need to spend your holiday shopping money on Indianapolis marriage counseling services.
Tip One: Recognize when Christmas is two and a half months away.
That may seem like a lot, but you will need all of that time to carefully plan for Christmas. Begin by writing down the ways you need to plan for Christmas. Most families need to plan financially. Some families need to plan emotionally (spending large amounts of time with extended family, in-laws, and other relatives can be difficult). And other families need to plan physically if travel is involved. What ways does your family need to plan for Christmas?
Tip Two: Make a Christmas budget.
Talk with your spouse about your budget for Christmas. Decide how you want to pay for gifts, food, decorations, trees, and any other Christmas related expense. Make a list of your expenses and estimate the cost of Christmas this year. Do you need new decorations? Are you buying a new tree? Do you need to buy presents for your kids’ teachers? Are you making a large Christmas meal at your house? Is there travel involved (gas, airfare). Who do you need to buy or make presents for? Gather all the information you know and write it down.
Tip Three: Begin saving.
Saving a small amount of money each week or each month before Christmas can leave you with a mighty sum of money when you begin buying presents or decorating your home. After you have created your budget, estimate how much you will need to save each week or month to generate your estimated Christmas costs. Is this realistic? Do you need to cut back? Begin saving, even if you need to eliminate expenses from your budget. Be realistic about Christmas expenses. Christmas leaves as quickly as it comes, but you don’t want to be left with outrages bills that you can’t afford.
Tip Four: Involve your kids.
Ask your kids to begin making a Christmas wish list. This will help you gather information about their desires and how much it will cost you. If your child wants multiple expensive items, ask your child to pick out the favorite. Talk to your kids about planning for Christmas and explain to them that you are planning ahead in order to stay financially stable. Ask them to do the same. Your kids can begin saving their allowance or money from a job to buy their friends Christmas presents.
Tip Five: Reevaluate your progress each month.
Readjust your budget if needed. Cut back where necessary and remind yourself that planning and being financially aware are for your own good. You will thank yourself the day after Christmas and on the days your kids stop playing with the toys they just “had to have.”
Kristie Watts, M.A.
Kristie is passionate about relational health, personal growth, and empowerment of individuals, couples, and families. Her desire is to reach couples, families, and individuals in the Indianapolis, IN area through the writing and practice of Marriage and Family Therapy.