As the holidays quickly approach we may be getting stressed out due to the pressure of trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on our list.  The holidays are an exciting time of the year full of colourful decorations, joyful music and lots of dinners with family and friends.  However the holidays can also be a source of both personal and financial stress.

Get through the holidays with these 4 easy tips:

1. Make a budget. It is very easy to overspend during the holidays because we all want to buy the perfect gift for everyone on our list.  The temptation of sales in shopping malls and online sales can cause pressure and the unnecessary need to spend. Don’t let shinny sales, discounts and coupons tempt you this holiday season.  Make a budget and stick to it. An easy way to make a holiday spending budget is to spread your holiday shopping over several different paychecks, this way you aren’t forced to spend a lump sum of money all at the same time.

2. Cut down your list.  You personal holiday spending budget may not allow you to buy gifts for everyone on your list so you will have to make cuts.  An easy way to give something to everyone on your list and not break your budget is to give gifts to your closest family and friends by giving a holiday card to everyone.  Sending a holiday card is a nice gesture and after all it’s the thought that counts. Your co-workers and extended family will love to receive a holiday card because even if you won’t be spending the holidays with them sending a card means that you didn’t forget about them. In an effort to save money you can buy your holidays cards this year when they go on sale and give them out next year.

3. Schedule your time.  If you have to travel during the holidays one way to save money is to schedule your time with family and friends. Try and visit family and friends who live in the same area on the same day, this will save you both time and money on travelling costs. Another great way to save time and money is to set up a buffet style dinner and ask everyone to bring something.  This will allow you to see all of your family and friends at the same time without having to spend a lot of money.

4. Have some fun.  I know that the holidays can definitely be a busy time of the year but they should also be a fun time of the year.  During all of the dinner, gift and holiday party madness we can’t forget to have some fun.  Take a time out from cooking, cleaning and visiting your family and friends to just enjoy the holiday season. Sit down and watch a great holiday movie; my favourite movies include A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the cartoon version), A Charlie Brown Christmas, Gremlins and Home Alone.

What is your favourite Christmas movie?

Photo by futundbeidl

 

 

 

Tahnya Kristina

Tahnya Kristina

Tahnya is 30 years old and lives in Montreal Quebec. She graduated in 2005 from Concordia University, and she currently works for a major International Financial Institution. She recently launched http://www.mediamadam.ca/. You can follow her on Twitter @TahnyaP.