Well maybe not quite July, but how about August?
Every year millions of people put Christmas on their credit cards. They spend the next year or more trying to pay off the credit card bills. Try something new this year – start by planning and paying for Christmas now. You can do this in a variety of ways.
One – open up a separate savings account and start putting your Christmas money there. Whatever is available in that account is what you have to spend on Christmas. So – if you want to have $1000 available you need to save $200 a month for the next five months. Break it down by paycheck and it becomes more manageable.
When we are talking about Christmas it is not just the presents. Think of expenses for decorations, extra food, baking, Christmas cards, and extra charitable contributions you may make.
Second, if you know you will spend the money in the savings account – consider purchasing gift cards instead. When you go shopping you pay with the gift cards instead of using your credit card. You will of course need to know where you will be doing the majority of your shopping. Purchasing gift cards is ideal if you also tend to give a lot of gift cards as presents since you can be getting your shopping done.
Watch your choice of gift cards. Make sure there are no monthly service charges or expiration dates. This is often true if you purchase VISA or MasterCard gift cards at your local bank or credit union.
Third, start purchasing Christmas presents now. With back to school sales going on it is a perfect time to be purchasing clothing, electronics and items that will go in college dorm rooms. Watch for sales throughout the next several months and purchase items along the way.
The concern is that you keep yourself organized. Be sure that you do not over-purchase for any one individual. Do not spend more than you would normally spend simply because you have more time. And of course – you need to figure out where to hide those presents so that little eyes do no find them.
Four, you have plenty of time to consider making homemade gifts to save money. If you enjoy sewing, the possibilities are endless. If you knit or crochet, what would be useful for members of your family? Is scrap booking your thing – prepare photo albums, either with or without pictures for others that do not have the time or talent. Woodworkers have several months to plan and make items for family members. With the Internet – the possibilities are endless for creating a special book of recipes, a 2010 calendar with family photos, a CD filled with songs that have special meaning to the recipient or any number of projects that you would consider but normally think of too late.
Five, if money is going to be really tight consider creating coupon books for your recipients. Offer to babysit kids, clean a garage or basement, chauffer an elderly parent, perform a service you have a skill for (cut hair, bake for a special occasion, paint or wallpaper, whatever).
If you want to earn some money for gifts – consider creating coupons that you sell to friends and family for that special skill that you have. This is the same type of coupon book that you could consider giving directly to the recipient unless you normally perform that service for them anyway.
Now is the time to start getting organized and know that Christmas is taken care of.
Make it a merry Christmas and reduce the stress by starting the planning now!!
Well maybe not quite July, but how about August?
Every year millions of people put Christmas on their credit cards. They spend the next year or more trying to pay off the credit card bills. Try something new this year – start by planning and paying for Christmas now. You can do this in a variety of ways.
One – open up a separate savings account and start putting your Christmas money there. Whatever is available in that account is what you have to spend on Christmas. So – if you want to have $1000 available you need to save $200 a month for the next five months. Break it down by paycheck and it becomes more manageable.
When we are talking about Christmas it is not just the presents. Think of expenses for decorations, extra food, baking, Christmas cards, and extra charitable contributions you may make.
Second, if you know you will spend the money in the savings account – consider purchasing gift cards instead. When you go shopping you pay with the gift cards instead of using your credit card. You will of course need to know where you will be doing the majority of your shopping. Purchasing gift cards is ideal if you also tend to give a lot of gift cards as presents since you can be getting your shopping done.
Watch your choice of gift cards. Make sure there are no monthly service charges or expiration dates. This is often true if you purchase VISA or MasterCard gift cards at your local bank or credit union.
Third, start purchasing Christmas presents now. With back to school sales going on it is a perfect time to be purchasing clothing, electronics and items that will go in college dorm rooms. Watch for sales throughout the next several months and purchase items along the way.
The concern is that you keep yourself organized. Be sure that you do not over-purchase for any one individual. Do not spend more than you would normally spend simply because you have more time. And of course – you need to figure out where to hide those presents so that little eyes do no find them.
Four, you have plenty of time to consider making homemade gifts to save money. If you enjoy sewing, the possibilities are endless. If you knit or crochet, what would be useful for members of your family? Is scrap booking your thing – prepare photo albums, either with or without pictures for others that do not have the time or talent. Woodworkers have several months to plan and make items for family members. With the Internet – the possibilities are endless for creating a special book of recipes, a 2010 calendar with family photos, a CD filled with songs that have special meaning to the recipient or any number of projects that you would consider but normally think of too late.
Five, if money is going to be really tight consider creating coupon books for your recipients. Offer to babysit kids, clean a garage or basement, chauffer an elderly parent, perform a service you have a skill for (cut hair, bake for a special occasion, paint or wallpaper, whatever).
If you want to earn some money for gifts – consider creating coupons that you sell to friends and family for that special skill that you have. This is the same type of coupon book that you could consider giving directly to the recipient unless you normally perform that service for them anyway.
Now is the time to start getting organized and know that Christmas is taken care of.
Make it a merry Christmas and reduce the stress by starting the planning now!!
