It’s October already and the countdown for Christmas has
begun. Yep, always an exciting day to
look forward to, but in the back of my mind is always the cost involved. How can we spend less this year so that it doesn't kill our finances?
It all has to start with a plan.
A budget. Yes, the dreaded ‘B’
word! A budget is how you are going to
keep track of how you spend those hard earned Rands, and ensure that Christmas
is not spoilt by a feeling of over-indulgence on the financial side.
So let’s get down to the nitty gritty. If you follow these steps you can ensure that
Christmas becomes a time for giving without the pain of excessive expenditure.
1.
GIFTS: Decide in advance how much you are able to
spend -
either in today or per gift.
· Draw up a list of all the people for whom
you need to buy gifts. Decide on the
total amount of money you can afford to spend, and divide it by that number of
people. If this amount is below R50 per
person, then you could start thinking about making the gifts.
· My little ‘trick’ to Christmas shopping
is that I use the public holiday on 24 September to make many of my
purchases. OK, I realise that date has
passed already this year, but the point here is to shop way before Christmas so
that you are not shopping with Christmas prices. It is a known fact that the shops see us
coming as we look for gifts, and up go the prices. So get it done way ahead of time.
·
Take advantage of sales during the year. I often sit in the comfort of my home and
read through the shop specific adverts which come through my post box. I decide on particular items and then go
straight in to the shop and purchase them.
This saves the feeling of wandering around aimlessly in a shopping
centre trying to find something to buy for Aunty Mary. This usually ends up in an expensive impulse
purchase as your feet begin to throb.
·
Think about what the children actually
need. Fact. Most of our children already have way too
much, but maybe even suggest amongst your extended family that gifts are only
bought for the children.
· For grandparents, they love to receive photos
of the grandchildren. Go to a
photographic shop or online and have calendars made up with a selection of
photos from during the year.
·
Think about the gift that you are going to
give. I know I would certainly rather
receive a nice bottle of wine or some herbs for my garden than any cheap
toiletries or a box of chocolates which are only going to make me fat!
·
For couples, Christmas is the ideal time to
buy a joint gift - something that we wouldn’t normally splash
out on, and something which can benefit each other for years to come. Cushions for the patio, a coffee machine, a
bedside alarm clock - it’s endless.
·
Oh, and the last point on the gifts, is
please be realistic about how much you spend on the wrapping paper, fancy tape,
bows and stickers. They are usually just
thrown away.
2.
FOOD:
Again, decide in advance how much you are able to spend
·
Don’t go mad with food! So often we end up seeing excess food being
thrown away, alternatively we feel we are eating leftovers for weeks on end.
·
On the note of leftovers, it is always a
treat to have something for Boxing Day
- in my mind, this is definitely
a day which Mom has off so she can put her feet up -
perfect for leftovers where everyone can help themselves.
·
If you have invited family and friends to
join you for Christmas Day, ask them to help with the food. Perhaps one part of the family can take
responsibility for the starters, others for the dessert, and a few more for the
main course. But as the hosts, don’t
forget all those little things such as chips, nuts, sweets etc, which certainly
add up in price. Ensure that everyone is
bringing their fair share according to their abilities.
·
From a Mom’s point of view, it’s not only the
cost of the meal which needs to be distributed evenly; it is also the
preparation work. The day is so much
better if you are not stuck behind the stove whilst the rest of the family are
out partying! Ask people to prepare the
food which they are bringing along. People
generally do want to bring something and be able to contribute in a meaningful
way.
3.
DRINKS:
Plan how much you can afford and share the cost
·
When it comes to drinks, I highly recommend
that everyone brings along what they expect to drink. Share the load as the cost of the drinks can
become excessive.
4.
CHRISTMAS
·
Buy an artificial tree. Real trees are starting to cost more and more
each year, and you are doing the environment no favour by buying real
trees. We have one of those gorgeous
African wire trees. Lovely to decorate,
fold up relatively flat for storage, and best of all, they don’t drop pine
needles all over the floor!
·
Make your own decorations. There are loads of patterns on the internet
and a really good fun activity for one of the weekends just before
Christmas. Young children will love
getting involved here and will be able to feel really proud of their special
items as they hang on display for guests to admire. We have a family tradition of telling the
story of each decoration as it goes up.
·
Don’t waste money buying crackers. Generally, especially the type we get here,
are expensive and just junk. They look
good on the table for the first few minutes and before you know, you end up
with pieces of cracker strewn all over the place.
5.
A DAY
TO MAKE MEMORIES
·
Most important is to remember that Christmas
is a time for giving. But it is not only
about opening and playing with presents.
It is also a special time when we are together as families. Arrange to do other things as well. Perhaps it’s a walk on the beach, or a trip
to the forest. Just be together as a
family. Give of your time and attention without spending money.
So, if you would like to have a financially healthy Christmas,
remember to ask yourself well in advance “What can I afford to spend on Christmas
this year”? And then, of course, stick
to your plan.
Happy Christmas and a Good New Year to all!
