5 Tips for preserving your budget during the holidays

The holidays can be a challenging time to be on your debt relief journey.  There are many opportunities to get off the path of your journey.  But if you are prepared, you won’t get off the path.  Learn more in this week’s blog. 

You are doing well on your debt relief journey.  But the calendar reminds you that holiday time is fast approaching.  Are you prepared to stay on budget through the holidays?  Use these tips to help you get through.

Eat at home

The holidays can be a tough time to stay out of restaurants.  Often there are holiday parties and traditions that involve going out.  However, there are things that you can do at home to make up for going out.

Have a turkey for your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal.  It may seem expensive, but if you plan well, it can be both a way to give to others and stretch the leftovers out for several meals. Get a turkey that is bigger than what you need for the meal and include the leftovers in your meal planning. You can do the same thing with your favorite side dishes. The additional cost will be minimal and the leftovers will be easy meals for you.

Avoid getting expensive high end treats while you are on your debt relief journey. Stick with basic foods that you enjoy so that those “special” items don’t break your budget. Be creative with your cooking so you enjoy the food you prepare.  Make the preparation part of the fun!  Remember to focus on what you have, not what you are “missing”.  Keeping your focus positive will make the holidays more enjoyable.

Be creative with gifts

Make the holiday about people instead of gifts. It is easy to go overboard buying gifts if you are not careful when you are shopping. You don’t want to break your budget by spending your debt relief funds buying gifts. Remember, you will be able to spend your money the way you want sooner by not delaying your debt payoff by overspending now.  Borrowing money to buy gifts (even on credit cards) will just make your debt relief journey longer and more painful.

Give gifts that involve more time and less money.  This can be activities that you enjoy doing together with the people you are giving to. They will remember that time spent together.  Their memories will last FAR longer than a gift wrapped package. 

Don’t use credit cards this is borrowing money!

Since you don’t want to be tempted to use your credit cards during the holidays, lock them up at home. If you don’t have the card with you, you won’t be tempted to use it when you shouldn’t.  Taking the temptation away can be a big help when you are on your debt relief journey.  Don’t make your journey longer and harder by borrowing money.

Don’t spend money on things that are not in your budget

Remember that just because the holiday season is here, you cannot stop following your budget. Because you did not spend outside your budget, you have just eliminated additional monthly payments and interest on purchases your could not afford to make.

The same rules apply all year.  If you want to spend more money on something not in your budget, you need to spend less money on another item that is in your budget. 

Continue to be creative in what you do.  If you apply yourself you can come up with a solution that will keep you on track in your budget and allow you to enjoy the holidays!

Focus on people not things

The holidays are a great time to focus on other people.  As I said before, set your focus on good things.  Look for the good in others and help them see to it.  Doing special things for others is a great way to bless them and enjoy yourself at the same time. 

Remember to forgive others.  The holidays can be a stressful time and people often don’t operate at their best when they are under stress.  If you react the wrong way you can make the situation worse instead of better.  Prepare yourself by expecting to see the good in others and choosing to ignore all else.

Being prepared will help you stay on your debt relief journey through the holiday season.  Have a plan for your spending and your activities to keep yourself busy and happy!  You will soon find yourself on the other side of the holidays and still on your debt relief journey path!  You will be glad you followed your budget plan!

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God Bless your holidays and your week!