Article:Tips for Keeping the Joy In and the Debt Out of Christmas

[Sara Noel]

Tips for Keeping the Joy In and the Debt Out of Christmas

Christmas is supposed to be joyful, filled with the spirit of giving, a celebration of God's love for his people. Keep the joy in Christmas by avoiding the debt monster that terrorizes many families for the next year. With a little planning and creativity, you can give and celebrate this Christmas without going over your budget. Here are some ideas to help.

Tip 1.
Make gifts. Cookies, candies, Christmas or other decorations, "gifts-in-a-jar", plants, are just some of the
creative and unique gifts you could give instead of buying
something.

Tip 2.
Give coupons for needed services. Babysitting, car washing,
yard care, snow shoveling, house cleaning, window washing, back rubs, are just some of the thoughtful services someone would appreciate.

Tip 3.
Give a family gift. Instead of giving gifts to each individual, give a gift the whole family could enjoy such as baked goods, a framed picture, a special book, or a service (See Tip 2.).

Tip 4.
Make a list of the people you want to buy for and other
Christmas items you will need. Set a predetermined amount that you can afford to spend for each item and stick to it. Don't allow guilt buying and advertising hype to determine your gift purchases.

Tip 5.
Christmas spending should be a planned part of your budget. Set aside a little money for Christmas each week during the summer, or if you are really organized, purchase gifts, cards, and decorations a little at a time well beforehand when they are on sale.

Tip 6.
Give your children little jobs or help them find jobs in the
neighborhood so that they can earn money to purchase gifts.
This allows them to experience the joy of giving and helps them to learn to manage their money.

Tip 7.
Shop alone. Statistics show that if you shop with a friend, spouse, or worst of all your children, you will spend more and buy more impulse items. Take your list and follow it, and when you are finished, go home. The longer you are in the store, the more impulse items will jump into your cart.

Tip 8.
Eat before you go shopping. This will help you avoid the high cost of eating at the mall or in a restaurant.

Tip 9.
Make your own Christmas cards. Using decorative paper or card stock which you can find at office supply stores, create your own unique cards or Christmas letters. Save postage by hand delivering as many as possible, or you can even email a cheery Christmas message.

Tip 10.
Shop in unusual or out-of-the-way places. Be creative and look for useful inexpensive gifts in out-of-the ordinary places such as garden stores; office, fabric, pet, art, auto, or restaurant supply stores; coffee shops, used bookstores, auctions, craft shows. The list is as long as your imagination.

Article by Naomi Knudsen
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