Christmas Saving Ideas
by Rika Muluzi.
Having a late lunch with my three close friends one afternoon, I was dismayed to learn that Jenny was battling guilt because she did not have the money to buy her children expensive gifts for Christmas. As the conversation went on, we discovered that all of us had notions about the holidays that were not necessarily healthy. Sylvia had over a hundred cards to send and needed books of stamps. Karen constantly did her shopping on Christmas eve and ended up regretting her purchases or the amount of money she had spent on them. Mwewe recently discovered that the holiday season is the reason for the biggest chunk of her credit card debt. And I realized that I was focusing too much on myself and not on others, when the holiday season was about God giving me the greatest gift and focusing on me.
Don’t make these mistakes this holiday:
Don’t give gifts out of guilt. “I want everyone to know that I care about them, especially my daughter,” Jenny said. The truth is if you can’t afford it, you can’t. Do not go into debt because you were trying not to let someone down by not giving them a gift. Don’t dip into your emergency savings to buy people gifts. Think about those dear to you, would you love them less if they did not get you a gift?
Be honest with all involved. Children are not stupid and can see when parents strain to get them what they want. Think about your own childhood and you will see that it is true. Jenny decided that she would be honest with her daughter and give her options. It was also an opportunity for her to share that Christmas is not about gifts but about The Gift.
Don’t shop in a hurry. This will make it less likely for you to compare and get good bargains. Do your shopping in good time so that you are not rushing on the 24th and buying everything you can get your hands on. This is why Karen regretted her purchases. One trick I use is to wait for sales. Some of the gifts I will be giving this year were bought months ago, during spring and summer sales.
Track your spending. Have a budget for your holiday shopping and be determined to stick to it. The holiday season is the most-expensive season of the year. Sticking to your budget will take prayer, prudence and resolve. Do not buy on impulse and don’t be unrealistic. It might not be possible to spend the same amount on everyone. With a little thought, you can get a very inexpensive and meaningful gift.
Hand-deliver as many cards as you can. This can save you hundreds of dollars in postage especially for neighbours and co-workers.
Wherever possible, buy gifts that don’t need extra spending. A laptop will require the internet. A cellphone will require a plan.
Give to those who need it most. My mistake was that every Christmas, I focus on me and mine. Spare a few coins and notes for those who may have nowhere to go and nobody to see this Christmas. Take Christmas Eve or early Christmas morning to spend some time with someone who might need it most. A coffee and a conversation can go a long way in blessing someone.
Make your Christmas about quality time and fellowship, and not about gifts and expenditure. Games, company, a good, home-cooked meal and some great music don’t cost too much and the memories will remain for a lifetime.
Create gifts if you can. If you are gifted in crafts, make something for someone. It is much cheaper and will be treasured because of the time, thought and effort put into it.
Get acquainted with bargain stores. Dollar/pound stores, arts and crafts stores, etc often have beautiful things that you can distribute as gifts. Stop by a few of these stores and take a look – you might find a few gifts that someone would appreciate.
Have a blessed and frugal Christmas!
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