Unfortunately this applies to the parents amoung us who struggle to keep up not with the people next door but those at school and what ever club the children in your life may spend their spare time. Well this year has been even worse than normal.
The unstable interest rates and credit companies clamping down on what they will lend and who they will lend it to means that a lot of children this year will not be getting exactly what they want in Santa’s sack this year.
So how can you overcome this in time for next year? Well if you have managed to avoid getting so far into debt that you are up to your limit completely till next Christmas there are ways to avoid getting into debt at Christmas.
Firstly start planning in January! One of the best ways to avoid getting into debt in December is to make sure that you are on the ball with your finances at the start of the year. Put aside a little extra each month. If you can manage $50 a month then you would have a massive $550 to spend on presents when Santa comes calling!
Another way to do it is to make sure that you don’t over shop when it comes to the food that comes into your household. Think of it this way do you really need a turkey that you can eat for 2 weeks in a number of different dinner dishes (lunch and breakfast if your anything like my house!) Cut down on the food an you cut down on the food bills!
Party where appropriate and you can also save money over Christmas, this year has seen my company, my department and my wifes department all have a party. The company one is paid for but the department one means we have to get dinner and drinks for the two of us. Here is part of the problem, in many cases the respected husbands and wives work in these two departments. So effectively we are paying twice for the same experience. Without a lot of brain power here is the chance to cut the cost somewhat is it not?
So just with these three simple little tips you don’t have to turn into Scrooge and walk around screaming “Bah Humbug!” at every turn but a few little tightening of the belt exercises can make all the difference.
