Holiday Shopping on a Budget

Do you love the holidays as much as I do? I love the season and all the fun it brings. There is hot cocoa and holiday movies, putting up the tree, family time and of course the presents. There are a lot of great memories to be made, but often those good memories come with a price tag, don’t they? Well, the last thing we want to do is to get in debt and create more stress over family fun so with a little intentional planning and a budget in mind the holidays can be just as fun and not leave us with the holiday blues afterwards. Let me share some fun ideas for enjoying the holidays and staying on budget. 

1. Be intentional! By creating a plan and being intentional about how we spend our money we can make decisions that keep us within a budget and know why we are spending what we have.  
2. Create a holiday list. I know you have gone grocery shopping without a list and came home with way more then you intended, right? The same thing happens without a list for holiday shopping. With food, decorations, and even presents we need to have a list and a budget for each of those, so we don’t overspend. Deciding in advance and create that list will help us stay within our budget and keep the focus on the moments instead of the monetary things. 
3. Simplify your list. Is it possible to simplify your list? Look at all the activities to see if they are still what your family wants to do. Look at your holiday meals or outings to save more and can you tailor down your gifts list too? Make sure kids have a budget and cut down on their list too as the friends list can get out of hand if not deliberately managed and budgeted for in advance. 
4. Create memories that are free or budget friendly. What traditions can you create that won’t cost very much? Hot cocoa and movies together are a fun one. What about doing a caroling party with apple cider and cinnamon donuts? Or you could create memories by driving around to look at Christmas lights. You could even just park in a neighborhood and walk to save money on gas and make it more active. There are so many memories to be made with some old-fashioned fun. 
5. Make something as a family. Could you have a family paint night or do a Christmas wreath together? What about baking fudge or making popcorn balls to give to the neighbors? Have a cookie baking night and wrap those for friends and neighbors to save money and make memories. What does your family like to make? Use it to shower your loved ones with love this holiday and save money at the same time.  
6. Pay attention to what stores you shop at during the holidays. We do a fun game where we go to the thrift shop and have a name and try to get them the nicest gift for the cheapest amount and quickest time. We want them to love it and there is a prize for the best gift within the budget. 
7. Look at choosing one special family member instead of buying for everyone. Our big family started to draw names so that we didn’t have to worry about buying for everyone. It was a secret which made it fun and there was a price limit which really helped our budget. It allowed us to really focus on the one person and make it a special gift. 
8. Can you do acts of service instead of monetary gifts for neighbors, family and even friends? What about mowing grandma’s lawn or providing a meal for your sister’s family instead of gifts for everyone? Be creative with what gifts your family has and how you can use those gifts. True gifts come from the heart, and this is a great way to show that. 

Holidays are meant for making memories and when we keep that in mind it helps us focus on more than just the gifts. Think about fun first and how to give time instead of money. Time is very valuable as we know, and the best memories will be made when we are present and enjoying ourselves rather than stressing about money. With some intention and financial goals set this could be the best holiday season yet!

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As CEO for Inspirational Inc. and founder of “Tea With Chantel” trainings & workshops, Chantel Mathson inspires women to live with purpose and build thriving community. Shehas traveled all over the U.S. and Canada, speaking and inspiring others to become impact makers. Chantel has been a featured speaker at NASA Space Center, The University of Notre Dame and numerous national conferences. She is a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, blogger, bible teacher, military spouse mentor, author, and professor of communications. Chantel shares her heart and home with her husband, three kids and two dogs in California. As a Military spouse she has moved twelve times and has a heart for helping military wives connect, find their purpose, and create community. Her Tea with Chantel business evolved as she moved across the country and had to create new community herself. She is always ready to share a cup of tea and would love to connect…  FB/Twitter/Linkedin/IG @teawithchantel or Instagram.com/teawithmilitarywives and teawithchantel.com