This holiday season, many homeowners are trying to keep their heads above the rough waters of the housing market and our nation's economy. So, there's no better time than now to share some tips that can help you have a debt free holiday.
Begin by making a list of who you will buy for. This will help you keep track of those you are buying for when shopping. As you buy for someone on your list, mark them off. There's nothing worse than buying five gifts for one family member and only two for another. Also, set your spending limits for each person before you shop. This will help you stay in your financial spending range without over-spending. Sometimes you will find the perfect gift for someone and it's over your spending limit, but you can always lower the limit of someone else on your list. If needed, you can always adjust your spending limit as you go. And be sure to always write down how much you spent per gift by each person's name on your list to make it easier to keep up with your spending.
Take heed of how you pay. If you absolutely have to pay by credit card, take only one with you. Otherwise, try your best to use cash, checks or your debit card. Using the cash method is the best way to help keep you in check of your budget. Avoiding credit cards will make those large January credit card bills disappear.
When low on your finances, consider some alternatives. From time-to-time, we all come to a point when we just don't have it in our budget to buy gifts for our loved ones. However, there are different ways to show someone you love them other than gift giving. One of the best gifts to give someone is your time. Ask your loved one to have lunch or dinner with you one day. Another idea for very inexpensive gifts is baking. You can always bake little treats and give them out. It shows your loved ones you actually spent the time to make them.
Make sure you are taking care of yourself. Many people get depressed during the holidays and go on spending sprees because they think it will make them feel better. So, if you find yourself feeling blue, stop and take note of your emotional or physical state. Are you getting enough sleep, exercise or personal time? Taking a nap during the day will help with sleep, and taking a long walk always helps boost the emotions. And remember that over-spending will only make you feel worse, later.
Many of us don't know the certainty of our financial state for the next holiday season. So it's a good idea to plan ahead for next year. Every time you go shopping, pick up something you think a loved one will enjoy receiving next year. Or, set aside a savings stash and add to it whenever you have a little extra money on hand. You can set a goal of how much you want to save and add to it weekly or monthly. You will definitely enter the next holiday season more than ready.
More tips and advice for homeowners
Those are some good tips. My wife and I actually used some of those this year. I am new to AR and surfing Missouri blogs getting to know who is out here. Looking forward to reading more of your posts. Thanks.