Spending less can pay off

Christmas holidays can be a time when many families build close relationships with each other while they are on holiday. People often make a real effort at Christmas to get together which is great. The tradition in some families is to have holidays which can be expensive such as renting a place by the water, eating out, and buying the latest gadgets to enhance your holiday. If you plan for a holiday like this and it is in your spending, sharing and savings plan then great.

 

However, if you are a family who has been affected by unemployment this year, or a reduction in income I urge you not to be tempted to give in to those old beliefs such as “we have always done it this way, so we must do it this way otherwise what will people think.” The excitement of the holiday you had will be short lived when the bills arrive, or you find there is no money for the registration on your car for example when it is due.

 

Find alternative ways to enjoy yourselves. As a family (which can be a couple without children) sit down and do some brainstorming as to how you could “do” the Christmas holiday season this year differently. Get everyone’s ideas and write them down. The idea of brainstorming to begin with isn’t to see if the idea will work or not, it is just to get ideas down on paper.

 

Encourage others to live more simply this year and donate your extra money say to the Samoan tsunami appeal is one idea.

 

These are a few ideas to get you thinking. If you have a tent, could you all live in your backyard, or put your tent in someone’s back yard. House swap, I have heard a change is as good as a holiday! 

 

One year when our family was young and we got together with other relatives we decided to make a “mini golf course” in our back yard. We planned out the route around the house, put obstacles in the way, made the hole flags, carefully dug a small hole in the lawn for the hole so the grass could be put back later. We had two putters which we got from somewhere. We had competitions between, the boys, the girls, couples etc. It was loads of fun and kept us entertained for days.

 

Ask other people how they entertain themselves in the holidays.

 

Remember that prosperity, both financially and emotionally is spelt with five little words – Spend Less Than You Earn!

 

So, have a very happy, prosperous, and enjoyable Christmas and New Year period and keep in mind that sometimes the best thing that you can do is spend time on your family not money.

 

Sylvia’s  book, Parents: How to stop your kids from going broke is available from www.silbo.co.nz, Paper Plus Stores, and Christian Bookshops. She is also available to speak with community groups and give tips on how to raise financially savvy kids. For information contact us.