Five Weeks Later

 

It has been five weeks since I talked about the latte factor.  Based on the October …… blog that means you could have paid down your credit card/loan or saved a total of $230.00.  Does that feel good?  Doing the same thing consistently for 30 times creates a habit, and you have now reached that mark.  Keep up the good work!  Some of you may not have done all 5 weeks, but whatever you did is more than you were doing before. The idea is to spend less on the small stuff and save or pay down credit with what you are saving.  The reason I bring this up now is that we are entering into a time of spending for many of us in North America.

Christmas, next to vacation, can be very expensive, so it’s important to set a budget.  If you just spend there will be more stress in January along with the cold weather and this can be a real downer.  Then, of course, you need to get away to the sun to lift your sprits and so the vicious circle goes. Let’s try to slow down the cycle here. If you do not celebrate Christmas, there may be another holiday that you celebrate that needs this kind of thought and preparation.

Christmas is a celebration you want to start planning for in January. I will blog on that in January.  As it is now just around the corner, we can set out a spending plan and stick to it.  I did my budget for the holiday season last week. I set a dollar limit on the following items: food, liquor, gifts and “just in case”. See, I even plan for the surprises. You may have other categories, but the idea is to keep track and stay mindful of what you spend. This will reduce the headache in January.

The dollar amount you spend is dependent on your financial situation, how big the family is and if you are hosting the family dinner. Try to be realistic. If the kids had a big Christmas last year and the financial situation has changed, it is OK to do less. Try to remember the gifts you got when you were 5, 6, 7 and so on. I don’t remember many of the gifts, but I do remember the food, the games, and the adults singing Christmas carols. Oh yes, and I remember doing all those dishes; that comes with a big family.  It is the celebrating and the family, biological or not, that counts. So if the finances are tight, focus on what will produce the best memories.

Some inexpensive or free things to do:

1. ice skating on the pond or lake
2. carolling in the neighbourhood
3. tobogganing
4. swimming at the local pool
5. building a snow man
6. having a snowball fight
7. playing a board game

Plan to have fun and stay in budget.