Yesterday was the official first day of winter. It’s also a part of the year when many of us will have time off from work to celebrate the holidays and the new year. However, the holiday season has grown to be much more than a time for celebrating with friends and family. It’s about giving and receiving gifts, reviewing your year full of rises and falls and making resolutions for what’s ahead.
The first part of that bundle is one of my big concerns, especially for the large group of us who are troubled by managing our finances. Sticking to a budget is difficult when wish lists are full of high-tech gadgets and other big-ticket items.
And then there is the issue of the new year creeping up on us. Looking back on all you’ve done and truly seeing where you went wrong can create a feeling of hopelessness.
Amidst all of the noise, is there a way to make the holidays just as happy, even when times are hard?
Share the Joy of the Season with Loved Ones
Now a person on a budget I’m sure would say, “Are you kidding me? A party will only set me back even more!” But it all depends on the type of get together you plan on hosting. Potlucks or after-dinner parties only require a small investment aside from the time it takes to organize everything and making sure the house is clean.
People won’t be overly critical of what you are serving if you have some holiday decorations and a solid plan of activities. Make sure to note that the event isn’t a formal dinner party, rather a refreshing opportunity for friends to get together for the holidays.
What’s really important about having these types of parties is sharing the joy of the season. Spending a little more time with our friends and family members is a huge bonus of these extra days off and you should take full advantage of them without having to spend any extra money.
Focus on What’s Important
Again, I will take the time to note the point of embracing time with family. Spend an afternoon baking with your kids. Have a movie night cuddled up on the couch with hot cocoa and popcorn. Hop in the car and pop in some holiday tunes; drive around nearby neighborhoods to see all of the houses lit up and decorated for the season.
No matter what you decide to do with your friends or family, the key is dedicating time to spend with them. After all the latest fads and trends fade, you’ll still be able to appreciate the memories and pictures of these special times together.
Appreciate What You’ve Got
Christmas has become a holiday where people not only expect to receive a gift, but THE gift. Every November and December we sit down and think about all the new “stuff” we need to improve our lives.
Although shiny new things can be exciting, we are often too soon to jump into buying something new. Additionally, when the something new is something out of our price range, the damages begin to outweigh the item’s appeal. This is where you have to decide whether or not it is right for you to invest in your purchase. Do you truly need it? Do you already have something like it? Will you be able to use it for a long time, or want another replacement next year?
Going into the holidays and 2010, remember to be grateful for everything you already own. Looking at your life through a positive lens is a great way to start a new year: being proud of the things you’ve accomplished. This doesn’t mean you can’t buy new things, but rather, if you do spend money you should invest in quality products that will last.
So in a time where consumerism reigns supreme and stress levels are high, remembering the “meaning of the season” can bring us all back down to earth and create a better environment for starting (and maintaining) a happy New Year.
Smart money management is important all year-round. For more money-saving tips and tools, check out Quizzle.com, where you’ll find out your potential for credit improvement and get the most affordable credit monitoring on the web.
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