Lesson 45: Stay Sane, Go Back to Basics
Hello Revolutionists,
This week I'm going to describe the top four things that require extra cash outlay at this time of year.
Gifts
Buying gifts can be the most dangerous form of spending for many, especially if they shop at the last minute. Good gift buying requires a shopping list, made well in advance, so you have time to shop around and find the best deals. This year you are planning your gift buying in line with your Christmas Spending Plan. You'll be taking advantage of specials, and coupon offers and online sales to get the very best deals and save even more. Use your creativity to choose gifts. Soap-on-a-rope for your brother may be easy, but if you think about his interests and lifestyle, you can find something unique that will really put a smile on his face. And when you stay within your budget you'll have a smile on your face too.
Entertaining
Here in Australia Christmas entertaining should be so easy. We have the best weather, the great outdoors and a love of casual. November and December are big months for entertaining so you'll need to decide on a budget and then plan around what your budget will fit. Last week I said that Christmas dinner is just one meal on one day, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy delicious foods and drinks and have treats, but remember your budget. If only one person eats seafood then perhaps planning a huge seafood platter is a waste. Instead make up a smaller platter. If no one eats turkey - don't serve it! And if you have six for dinner don't cater for 20.
Don't forget any pre-Christmas parties. And are you hosting a New Year's Eve party? Or a New Year's Day barbecue? Will everyone come to the one party or will you need to host two or three?
Your Spending Plan will dictate just how much entertaining you do and how you do it.
Consider the cost of what you need for each party: food, drinks, decorations, gifts, dishes etc and how many people you intend to invite. Total them and then subtract that amount from what remains of your Spending Plan after you've deducted gift costs.
Decorations
I love to decorate for celebrations. Birthdays, Christmas, New Years, Easter - if we celebrate I like to decorate the house. Christmas is my favourite time of year and the decorations add to the joy and merriment of the season. If you are not careful however, decorating can not only take up a lot of time, but really eat into your budget.
I allow for one new decoration each year in our Christmas Spending Plan, and in keeping with the one in, one out rule, rotate out an older decoration. It keeps the decorations under control, and there is always something fresh.
Here are some tips:
• Do you have enough decorations to open a store? Before you buy any new decorations, do a decoration stocktake. Do you have any younger family members just starting out? They may like your excess decorations. Or donate them to a local school or kindergarten. Or take them to the op shop or give them away on Freecycle. Reduce your total and not only will decorating be easier, so will taking them all down and packing them away. And you'll gain some space too!
• If you must have a memento for each Christmas, pick the decoration up at the Boxing Day sales. And remember, one in, one out. Buying your new ornaments after Christmas you'll save up to 80% on the pre-Christmas price. If there is one in particular you love, keep an eye on it as they will start to come down in the days immediately before Christmas - when it reaches the price you can afford to pay, buy it, just in case it goes and you miss out. These reduced decorations also make lovely gifts. If you need a small hostess gift for a Christmas part what could be better than a beautiful ornament, especially when you've bought for half price?
• Lights. Oh my but they are pretty. They are also expensive. When it comes to lights keep in mind last year's power bill, and the fact that power rates have increased significantly this year. Don't blow your budget by going over-board with lights. This year, think less is more and let someone else enjoy the hefty power bill.
• How much to decorate and when. If you work full-time and have crazy deadlines during December, think about the decorating you do. Do you have the time and the energy to go all out like you usually do? If not pick one room and concentrate on making it your Christmas wonderland.
The Numbers Don't Lie
As this week comes to a close you'll no doubt feel in complete control and a lot less stress. The numbers don't lie. They tell you without emotion, judgement or recriminations exactly how much you have and how much you can afford. Numbers are honest. You wouldn't buy a house without knowing if you could afford the mortgage, so you shouldn't shop for Christmas without knowing if you can afford it.
That means not buying extravagant gifts if your Spending Plan indicates a more modest celebration. This month, whatever you can afford, you will find creative, frugal and fun ways to use what you have to create the Christmas you dream of.
Lesson 45 Challenge: Make a list. Check it twice. This list is your gift list, so you need to check it twice. Think about whether you really need to give a gift to everyone on the list, yes, I realise you like to, but do you need to? Do some serious list renovating so that you end up with a gift list of people who you really want to give a gift too.
Lesson 45: Stay Sane, Go Back to Basics
This week I'm going to describe the top four things that require extra cash outlay at this time of year.
Gifts
Buying gifts can be the most dangerous form of spending for many, especially if they shop at the last minute. Good gift buying requires a shopping list, made well in advance, so you have time to shop around and find the best deals. This year you are planning your gift buying in line with your Christmas Spending Plan. You'll be taking advantage of specials, and coupon offers and online sales to get the very best deals and save even more. Use your creativity to choose gifts. Soap-on-a-rope for your brother may be easy, but if you think about his interests and lifestyle, you can find something unique that will really put a smile on his face. And when you stay within your budget you'll have a smile on your face too.
Entertaining
Here in Australia Christmas entertaining should be so easy. We have the best weather, the great outdoors and a love of casual. November and December are big months for entertaining so you'll need to decide on a budget and then plan around what your budget will fit. Last week I said that Christmas dinner is just one meal on one day, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy delicious foods and drinks and have treats, but remember your budget. If only one person eats seafood then perhaps planning a huge seafood platter is a waste. Instead make up a smaller platter. If no one eats turkey - don't serve it! And if you have six for dinner don't cater for 20.
Don't forget any pre-Christmas parties. And are you hosting a New Year's Eve party? Or a New Year's Day barbecue? Will everyone come to the one party or will you need to host two or three?
Your Spending Plan will dictate just how much entertaining you do and how you do it.
Consider the cost of what you need for each party: food, drinks, decorations, gifts, dishes etc and how many people you intend to invite. Total them and then subtract that amount from what remains of your Spending Plan after you've deducted gift costs.
Decorations
I love to decorate for celebrations. Birthdays, Christmas, New Years, Easter - if we celebrate I like to decorate the house. Christmas is my favourite time of year and the decorations add to the joy and merriment of the season. If you are not careful however, decorating can not only take up a lot of time, but really eat into your budget.
I allow for one new decoration each year in our Christmas Spending Plan, and in keeping with the one in, one out rule, rotate out an older decoration. It keeps the decorations under control, and there is always something fresh.
Here are some tips:
• Do you have enough decorations to open a store? Before you buy any new decorations, do a decoration stocktake. Do you have any younger family members just starting out? They may like your excess decorations. Or donate them to a local school or kindergarten. Or take them to the op shop or give them away on Freecycle. Reduce your total and not only will decorating be easier, so will taking them all down and packing them away. And you'll gain some space too!
• If you must have a memento for each Christmas, pick the decoration up at the Boxing Day sales. And remember, one in, one out. Buying your new ornaments after Christmas you'll save up to 80% on the pre-Christmas price. If there is one in particular you love, keep an eye on it as they will start to come down in the days immediately before Christmas - when it reaches the price you can afford to pay, buy it, just in case it goes and you miss out. These reduced decorations also make lovely gifts. If you need a small hostess gift for a Christmas part what could be better than a beautiful ornament, especially when you've bought for half price?
• Lights. Oh my but they are pretty. They are also expensive. When it comes to lights keep in mind last year's power bill, and the fact that power rates have increased significantly this year. Don't blow your budget by going over-board with lights. This year, think less is more and let someone else enjoy the hefty power bill.
• How much to decorate and when. If you work full-time and have crazy deadlines during December, think about the decorating you do. Do you have the time and the energy to go all out like you usually do? If not pick one room and concentrate on making it your Christmas wonderland.
The Numbers Don't Lie
As this week comes to a close you'll no doubt feel in complete control and a lot less stress. The numbers don't lie. They tell you without emotion, judgement or recriminations exactly how much you have and how much you can afford. Numbers are honest. You wouldn't buy a house without knowing if you could afford the mortgage, so you shouldn't shop for Christmas without knowing if you can afford it.
That means not buying extravagant gifts if your Spending Plan indicates a more modest celebration. This month, whatever you can afford, you will find creative, frugal and fun ways to use what you have to create the Christmas you dream of.
Lesson 45 Challenge: Make a list. Check it twice. This list is your gift list, so you need to check it twice. Think about whether you really need to give a gift to everyone on the list, yes, I realise you like to, but do you need to? Do some serious list renovating so that you end up with a gift list of people who you really want to give a gift too.
Lesson 45: Stay Sane, Go Back to Basics