Making a list and checking it twice
Black Friday is over and today is Cyber Monday, but that doesn’t mean it is too late to think about a plan for your holiday spending. Often, the pressure to buy expensive gifts and the costs of having a “perfect” holiday add up to the biggest stress of the season. We get an image of a picture perfect family time and we end up spending way more than we planned, then stressing out on how to pay the bills.
Years ago, my husband and
I decided we would not charge anything on credit for Christmas. Sticking to that decision for the last 20-plus years has not always been easy, but not paying for months at a time has been worth it. Not charging any gifts has forced us to be creative in what we give for Christmas. Some years have been very tight financially and we had to be very careful in how we planned our purchases. We learned that the amount of money we spent did not equal our holiday enjoyment. Some simple tricks can really help a limited holiday budget.
Making a list of everyone you plan to give a gift is essential. Write out what you plan to spend and what you intend to give. If you don’t know what you would like to give, then stick with the amount and follow through when you are shopping. I have a small Christmas notebook that I have used for years. Each December, I start a new list and then I record what I purchased as I find it. Because I use the same notebook each year, I have a record of what has been given from year to year, which is very useful in not duplicating gifts and also helps when I get home and have forgotten what I bought for each person.
I also plan my menus for any parties or special meals and include the costs for food in my budget. Writing it all down in my notebook gives me a quick reference to use when family members want to know what they can bring. I write their names beside the different foods and use it to make my grocery list.
When our kids were younger, we used the three gift rule: something they want, something they need and something they can use. Not only did it help prioritize how we spent our money, but it also helped the kids with their expectations. We have tried to stay consistent, although occasionally a special gift would change the total. A few times our budget was so limited that we would have to get really creative, like giving one box, each filled with small, low-cost items chosen to allow us to make memories with the kids as they used the items in their box. Looking back, the years we focused on making memories and not on gifts were some of the best and sweetest holidays.
For more ideas on budgeting and avoiding holiday stress, visit the uaex.edu website or contact the Garland County Extension office. Like us on Facebook @ GarlandFCS for family life and health updates or @garlandEGF for ways you can take off those extra holiday pounds.
You may reach our office by calling 501-6236841, visiting us at 236 Woodbine St., Hot Springs, or visit our website at https://uaex.edu/counties/ garland.
EHC information
Are you interested in joining an existing Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information on EHC, call 623-6841 or email Alison Crane at acrane@uaex.edu. Follow Alison on Facebook @garlandEGF and @GarlandFCS, and EHC on Facebook @GarlandCountyEHC.
Master Gardeners
If you’re interested in becoming a Master Gardener and would like more information, you’re welcome to attend their monthly meeting on the third Thursday of each month at the Elks Lodge,
1 p.m. You may also call the Extension Office at
623-6841 or email abates@uaex.edu. Follow Master Gardener events and information on Facebook — Garland County Master Gardeners.
4-H information
We have several 4-H Clubs for our Garland County youths who are 5 to 19 years old. For more information on all the fun 4-H activities there are, call the Extension Office at 623-6841 or email Linda Bates at lbates@uaex.edu.