Christmas Budgeting

The holidays can be a very exciting and expensive time of year. We hope the tips below will inspire a wonderful holiday without the worry of over-spending!

·        Create a budget and stick to it. Consider your income, your fixed expenses(rent, utilities, phone, etc) and come up with what you can afford to spend. Divide by each person on your list so you have a clear limit.

·        Create a list of who you need to buy for & what you’ve already got; apps such as Gift List & Christmas Gift List Tracker are great free options to keep you organized.

·        Arrange a toy swap with friends and neighbors! We all know kids lose interest in toys quickly but to another child it’s an exciting new treasure. Trade toys your kids no longer use with other families!

·        Consider second-hand. Local second-hand stores offer a wealth of gift items, usually in next-to-new condition. Give your loved one a big smile while also helping our planet! Bonus- no annoying boxes & impossible packaging to fight with Christmas morning!

·        DIY it! Homemade gifts are often the most treasured. Grandparents love nothing more than a hand-crafted art item from their Grandchildren. Nothing beats somethingfrom the heart & hands. Sugar scrubs, hand-print ornaments, cookies, knittedhats & mitts are a few of our favourites!

·        Consider the gift of your time. The value of a fun one-on-one date cannot be topped! Kids and adults alike crave connection; go sledding, stop for a hot chocolate and visit a local bookstore to make wonderful afternoon! Help with household chores can be a great gift of service.

·        Watch for sales! Black Friday and Cyber Monday often offer great savings but know yourprices! Watch for Boxing Day sales after Christmas to get good deals on nextyear’s birthday & holiday gifts!

·        Find hidden money: have partial gift cards deep in your wallet? Use them up to buy gifts! Have bottles & cans collecting dust? Take them for refund & turn them into something special. Received a gift that just wasn’t ‘you’? Regifting is a wonderful way to give an item a loving home- just be mindful not to give it to the person you received it from!

·        Save on shipping by ordering with friends. Shipping costs can really add up but most sites offer free shipping over a certain amount. Resist the urge to add more items to your cart to make the minimum; combine your order with a friend’s and both save!

·        Group gift! One larger gift cost split by a few households offers a big impact with a smaller chunk of your change.

Need help planning for the holidays? Looking for some more ideas or specific links from above? Give the Hub a call! We can help with all this and more!

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