Cracking Christmas Budget Tips
The joys of Christmas can be ruined by the temptation to overspend
. And many people are still paying for their Christmas indulgences well into the following year. But you will have a much more enjoyable time, if you stick to a budget, and avoid charging Christmas to your credit card. And you don't have to be a scrooge to do it.
If you normally run up huge debts at Christmas, I'm betting you have a whole heap of stuff in your house that you don't even need. Sell those items on Ebay, or have a garage sale. The cash you receive will go towards your Christmas budget, and help you avoid getting into more debt.
Next, tackle your biggest expense - Christmas gifts. If you can, make a no gifts for adults rule, and stick to buying Christmas gifts for the kids.
You may think this sounds a bit mean, but think about all the unwanted gifts that you've received at Christmas in the past. Do you really want to get into debt buying bath oils, and slippers that nobody really wants or needs?
If you can't cut out gifts for adults completely, why not draw names from a hat, and get everyone in your family to buy just one meaningful gift for another person. That way, everyone gets a gift, without needing to buy for everyone.
And if you really can't help giving, you could save money by making personalized Christmas gifts. It will require a bit of advance planning, but it will cost you less, and the things you make will be appreciated far more than the usual store bought rubbish.
Sites like Martha Stewart, have great recipes for candy, and cookies, as well as cool ideas for personalizing and packaging those handmade treats.
If your gift recipients have a sweet tooth, here's a lovely gift idea that is sure to go down well. Buy some cheap coffee mugs in the sale, and fill each one with marshmallows, a sachet of hot chocolate powder, and a candy cane. Then wrap in cellophane, and attach your own personalized label, or tag.
If you plan well in advance, you can make gift baskets which are customized with the recipient in mind. Make sure you shop round, to buy the baskets, and the contents in the sale.
Food is another huge Christmas expense. In the run up to Christmas, you would think the stores were closing down for a year. People seem to buy way too much food, and a lot of it will probably end up in the trash. The trouble is, most people don't plan their Christmas food shopping in advance, and they don't make a list.
If you can, plan your Christmas food requirements several weeks in advance. Make a list of every single item you will need. And in the weeks leading up to Christmas, buy one or two of the non-perishable items on this list, as you do your weekly food shop. This will take the pressure of your finances, in the week running up to Christmas.
Christmas decorations are an important part of Christmas for young children. But, you don't need to buy new decorations each year, and you don't need to spend a fortune on them either. Christmas should be about fun, not fashion.
If you have kids, they will enjoy helping you make simple Christmas decorations. And an effective, but cheap table display can be made by spraying fir cones gold, or silver, and arranging them in a cheap basket.
Have fun when you're budgeting for Christmas, and take comfort in the knowledge that you're going to enjoy the festive season, without getting into debt.
by: Tom de Zeeuw
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