Happy Holidays to All
Wishing you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2022!
The Holidays Are Here
The holidays are here. Yes, with many retailers starting there holiday shopping sales early this year, are you ready? This is a good thing, if you need to stay within a budget, start early.
First, make a list of all the people on your holiday gift list, then see if you can make changes.
Could you give a family gift instead of individual gifts?
Can you go in on a gift with someone else and share the cost?
Would a name draw work for the family party? With a name draw, each person buys only for the person whose name they drew. It’s fun and inexpensive. Do a separate drawing for the children so each child receives one gift and gives one gift. Make sure to set a dollar limit that everyone can afford.
Once your list is complete, set a firm amount for each person and don’t go over. The grand total of all your gifts should be a realistic amount that you can afford. Be honest with yourself and don’t overspend. You’ll regret it when the bills start coming in.
When shopping, keep your list of people and your budget amounts with you. Check the sales fliers now because holiday sales are already starting. Big retailers are also adding holiday layaway plans. Layaway plans work great if you know your budget. They allow you to make affordable payments without using a credit card.
You could also try giving gifts that don’t cost a lot of money. Service coupons are a wonderful gift. For example, you could cater a meal for a family that has a busy lifestyle. Try an inexpensive but meaningful gift, like a photo CD or memory album. The choices are endless if you take the time to think of what each person might enjoy most. This year with being at home more, I have come up with some great gift ideas that are meaningful, but not a budget breaker. I can’t tell you what they are as family members ready my newsletter.
The most important thing this holiday season is to have fun and enjoy your time together. Create new memories instead of new debts.
Financial Literacy Month – Tip #25
Gift Buying
Here’s the tip from November 15 – The Holidays month:
By now you know who you are going to buy gifts for. You have pared down the list to fit your spending plan. Now is when the rubber meets the road and you actually need to start shopping. You should list a few alternatives for each person on your list, making sure the gifts are within your budget. Begin to check the internet, newspaper ads and whatever else you can think of to ensure you get the best price (or at least a very good one). If you can stand the thought of fighting the crowds remember Black Friday is a time for really great prices or maybe Cyber Monday to shop online.
To purchase a copy of either of my books Thrive In Five: Take Charge of Your Finances in 5 Minutes a Day or 111 Ways To Save
#JillRussoFoster #30WaysToSave
Financial Literacy Month – Tip #24
Your List Continued
Here’s the tip from November 3 – The Holidays month:
Now that you have your list, are there people on it you would like to stop exchanging gifts with? Are you not sure how to do this? Last year I eliminated some people from my list. I didn’t want to be uncomfortable near the holidays if they gave me a gift and I didn’t have one in return. I spoke with these people ahead of time and told them of my thoughts and offered an alternative suggestion of spending time together or a long phone call. I still wanted to be connected with them. This worked great for me. How about you? Are there people you want to eliminate from your list? Don’t be shy about this step, I have a feeling more people want to stop than let on and they will be relieved that you raised the topic for them.
To purchase a copy of either of my books Thrive In Five: Take Charge of Your Finances in 5 Minutes a Day or 111 Ways To Save
#JillRussoFoster #30WaysToSave
Financial Literacy Month – Tip #23
Your Gift List
Here’s the tip from November 2 – The Holidays month:
Make your list of the people who you are going to get gifts for. Make sure you include those “extra people” to whom you usually give a holiday gift. These extras might include your hairdresser, your babysitter, housecleaner, mailman, etc. Also don’t forget people to who’s home you will be invited to and to who you wish to bring a hostess gift. Is it more people than last year or is it less? If it’s more pay close attention to tomorrow’s task. If it’s the same or fewer than last year, you’re in good shape but you should still go through tomorrow’s task just in case.
To purchase a copy of either of my books Thrive In Five: Take Charge of Your Finances in 5 Minutes a Day or 111 Ways To Save
#JillRussoFoster #30WaysToSave
Financial Literacy Month – Tip #22
Planning Ahead
Here’s the tip from November 1 – The Holidays month:
To reduce your stress, start to plan ahead. For me, waiting until the last few weeks would drive me crazy. If you start now, you can spread your spending out over the next two months and not be as overwhelmed. Today set up your game plan. At a minimum, at a high level it should consist of all the things you need to get done in the next two months.
To purchase a copy of either of my books Thrive In Five: Take Charge of Your Finances in 5 Minutes a Day or 111 Ways To Save
#JillRussoFoster #30WaysToSave
Happy Holidays!
Oh No, The Holidays Are Coming!
The holidays are coming! The holidays are coming! Guard your budgets and hold onto your wallets. You might be thinking I’m crazy, but the retailers have positioned their holiday displays to disarm you of your cash, especially this year with fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and the Holidays.
Did you shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Can you make this year different? Can you stick to your list and not overspend? You can if you make a detailed plan. Write down exactly what you will be buying and the dollar amount you plan to spend.
Here are some suggestions that should help you with your holiday budget list.
1. Gifts 
- How much for immediate family?
- How much for extended family?
- How much for friends and co-workers?
- How much for people whose services you use?
2. Entertaining
- How much will it cost when you host a gathering?
- How much will you spend on hostess gifts when you attend a party?
3. Travel
- How much will it cost for local travel (gas, tolls, parking, etc)?
- How much will it cost for long distance travel?
- How much will it cost for vacation?
4. Traditions – this can be anything from an afternoon tea to a night on the town.
If you write it all down, you might realize you’re planning on spending $300-$500 on gifts for people who aren’t on your immediate family list. And hosting dinners can be expensive just because you want to put on a good appearance. Ever notice a big stain on the tablecloth and found yourself running to the store at the last minute to buy one full price?
Holiday fun can wreak havoc on your budget, but it doesn’t have to. Now is the time to get a jump start on planning, and to put away money for the details that are important to you. Think of it as your own layaway plan. Take money out of each check, and spread out your spending, that way you won’t have buyer’s regret in January.
Doing this now may make January 2020 less stressful.
Tipping – Should You And How Much
Do you ever wonder should you tip this person? Personally, the answer for me is sometimes “yes” and sometimes “no”. For me it depends on the service I receive – was it 
good or exceptional, did someone go out of there way and do something extra?
When I am in a restaurant, yes I tip the server. When I use a car park service, yes I tip the attendant. Also, I tip for personal services – hair cuts, nails, porter at airport and more. The list goes on and on. There are so many to tip in our lives, and even more so now that the holidays are approaching. But who and what do you tip and how much?
And the next question for me is – how much? Cash is always a great option for giving, but may not be the answer for your budget. Other ideas, might be a thank you note, a call to a company to tell them what I great experience you received from someone that works there, a bouquet of flowers, baked goods, etc.
As the holidays approach, here are suggestions from Real Simple Magazine with who and what.
Happy Holidays!
