Its All About Christmas

Christmas is all about fun, cheer and goodwill to all men – isn’t it? Most people remember it as being the most exciting day of the year up until they were about 12, when it suddenly became one of the most stressful.

From year to year, Christmas consistently costs Britons more and is named as one of consumers’ top worries, as so many of us feel pressurised or compelled to spend money we don’t have on relatives we don’t like or simply don’t really know. Some use it as an opportunity to ‘make up’ for not spending time with people during the rest of the year, and many parents feel the need to try and fulfil their child’s every whim for a ‘perfect’ Christmas – whatever the cost.

But when asked, most people say that what’s important at Christmas is the chance to get together and relax with family and friends. If that’s the case – and let’s face it, the religious dimension of the holiday seems to be largely forgotten by this time, with Christianity on the decline in the UK overall and 23% of us identifying with ‘no religion’ – then it may be time to reconsider the way we act at this time of year and get serious about showing those feelings. Instead of splurging on mass-produced, identikit presents, why not consider saving for a really good family holiday in 2008, or simply taking time out to be with loved ones more often? After all, some of the best things in life – long walks in the woods, visits to many museums and galleries, trips to the seaside and picnics in the garden – are free.

‘Green’, ethical gifts and supporting charities instead of buying material goods have really taken off in the last couple of years, and have got many people thinking about the impact of Christmas and our lifestyles on the planet as a whole. They’re a great idea with a guaranteed feel-good factor and can be customised to fit any budget. And right-on gifts don’t have to be halfway across the world – if you don’t think a sponsored goat would go down well with your little darlings, what about a tent or other equipment to ensure that when summer comes back around, they can go on adventures to experience and learn about the local environment for themselves?

There are loads of things you can do to save money and stress and reduce your impact at Christmas. If you’re seriously worried about the cost of it, you’re not alone, with a study showing that in early December, 4.4 million UK consumers still haven’t cleared debts incurred last Christmas.

The essential thing is to remember not to get carried away: only buy what you can afford, and take stock of what you’re spending. Avoid store cards, which just spread the debt around with high APR. If you have any, it’s time to quit and take advantage of a credit card balance transfer which could slash your repayments considerably.

Disclaimer:

This article has been written for information and interest purposes only. The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author only, and should not be construed as advice or used to make financial decisions. Expert financial advice should always be sought and any links contained within this article are included for information purposes only.

Christmas time can be a very costly time for everyone. This year with the credit downturn or “Credit Crunch” everything seems a bit more difficult than usual. Still, there are many ways to economise, even at Christmas!

Do the kids expect large presents? Why is this?  It’s most probably because they have been given large expensive gifts in the past, and they think this is the norm.  Time to re-educate them perhaps?  Think about the REAL Christmas spirit. It’s better to give your time, rather than just spend endless money on them.

Not everyone can afford to buy big presents, so why not buy really small presents instead?  Actually it’s quite a fun thing to do, to have an arrangement with all members of the family and friends, that there is going to be a ceiling on the cost of each present, say $20 maximum.  Even $10 will buy a perfectly good gift.  It’s not what it costs after all; it’s the thought that counts.

As an example, a friend of mine had an old photo of her cousins, and this photo was particularly scruffy.  So instead of going out to buy a present, she scanned this old photo onto her computer, ‘repaired’ it with a few touches, enlarged it, and printed it off on to photo paper.  She bought a cheap but nice frame, and hey presto, one present!  It’s definitely the thought that counts here.

Remember to stick to just one present for each person, and not three or four!

Do you need to buy new decorations each year? If you do, think about why you do.  Decorations should last a few years at the very least.  It’s become the usual thing now to decorate the outside of your home, as well as the inside.  It looks lovely yes, but expensive to buy, and expensive on the electricity.  It’s an area where you could consider cutting back.

What about Christmas Dinner? This too can be less expensive.  Oh I know it’s lovely to buy a whole turkey, or goose, or whatever you usually have.  But who says you have to buy a WHOLE turkey?  In fact who says you need a turkey at all!  Try another less expensive dish, and be a little adventurous.

I know someone who is planning to have cold salad on Christmas Day, with cold sliced turkey and some cold sliced ham. Lovely!  You could always cook a hot meal on Boxing Day instead.

It might actually be rather nice not having to cook an enormous meal on Christmas Day.  More time to play with the kids and relax a little.

At Christmas there is usually too much food left uneaten.  Do you throw yours away, or do you keep having turkey sandwiches, turkey stew, turkey curry, for days afterwards?  Well, perhaps you might consider buying less food in the first place. Think of the savings.

Then there’s the New Year. Time for a party surely?  Well, the same thing applies here too. No need to splash out on such a lot of food and drink as usual.  You know, it’s surprising but after the majority of parties there’s such a lot of food left on the table it’s difficult to know what to do with it.  Most of it will inevitably be thrown away.  What a waste!

Start the New Year with a Resolution.  Spend less.  Try different ideas instead of simply spending money you haven’t got.  My advice would be to Plan Ahead in whatever you do, and in the majority of cases you will be able to economise.

The information above does not only apply to Christmas time – it’s good to be careful with your finances all year!

Have a Very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Well, it’s that time of year. Christmas is quickly approaching and money is getting tight. Everyone needs a little help around the holidays. Money is in short supply and your gift recipient list may be pretty long. The joy of giving is sometimes dampened by the shortage of funds. But don’t let it get you down this year. We’re going to learn how to stretch that holiday dollar and have the Christmas season that you’ve hoped for.

If high demand products are on your list this year, go for them first. Shop around if possible. Look for retailers’ advertisements promoting popular products. Don’t be afraid to show up hours before the sale and wait if you have to. Saving money and getting what you want may mean that you just need to make a few sacrifices. If you don’t have any luck, check out online availability of the product. Sometimes people buy out the most popular Christmas items in hopes of making money off of them on auction web sites. Check out auctions and determine how much shipping will be before you bid. Try for items that have their auctions ending in the middle of the night or super early morning when everyone else is asleep. A lot of times, you can get what you want with little or no competition, thus, saving you a bundle.

Your next challenge will be to stretch the money that you have left to cover gifts for everyone on your list. My advice is to shop around. Not only will you need to hit sales, but also compare prices between stores. Sometimes stores will compete for your business and honor other store’s promotions. This can come in handy if the store with the sale is far away from your home or work. Also, if the store with the sale sells out of what you want, then you may still be able to get it at the sale price from a competitor. Just bring in the advertisement or coupon that you were going to use and ask around to find out who will honor it.

Garage sales and second-hand stores can be used if you really need to save money and find something unique for that hard to please person on your list. You could find a special antique or vintage team shirt that would surely satisfy that picky sports fan in your life. If you must go for new, then check out close-out stores before the major department stores. Designer labels at discount prices are always a good thing. Don’t forget that they also carry lots of items for the home. You can find art, dishes, living room, bedroom and bathroom decorations for a fraction of what you would pay at a regular retail store.

If you’re really low on money, consider giving coupons for services to your friends and family. You can offer a free yard raking, removal of Christmas lights, a car wash or a free house cleaning. It’s a gift that shows you care even if you can’t afford to give. If you need some Christmas money, you always have the option of getting a loan online. It’s quick and easy with no credit check. You can borrow as little as $500 and pay it back when you get paid. A cash advance or payday loan can get you through the holiday season with ease.