Proudly presented by Neighborhood Credit Union
Between decking the halls with boughs of holly (those things aren’t cheap), finding the best locally-sourced chestnuts to roast on an open fire and taking an Uber over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house, the costs of spreading all that good cheer can add up quicker than letters in a North Pole mailbox. Before you know it, your heart is overflowing with yuletide generosity, but you’re taking out a second mortgage to afford Santa’s milk and cookies.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to help you have your fruitcake and eat it, too (not that you’d want to). This is how to ride out the season of giving on a budget.
1. Do away with store-bought decorations. Build your own winter wonderland!
Don’t be a slave to the holiday industrial complex!
Sure, buying pre-glittered baubles from your local department store is awfully convenient, but thanks to sites like Pinterest, it’s never been easier to create your own. From building a Christmas tree out of the books on your shelf to crafting wall hangings and centerpieces out of gift wrap scraps, the web holds every imaginable secret for adding a homemade flair to your holiday decor — and all for pennies on the dollar.
2. Avoid department store disappointment. Do your shopping online.
As someone who always puts his shopping off until the last possible moment, I’ve yet to witness anything that can match the unbridled pandemonium of a shopping mall the week before C-Day. I’ve endured hours-long parking space droughts, survived seemingly endless checkout lines with no nourishment save a single soft pretzel, and lost teeth to the elbows of savings-crazed shoppers in Santa hats. My reward? Returning home with a single bottle of Vanilla Bean Noel body scrub in a tattered Bath and Body Works bag.
This year, spare yourself the bedlam and get your shopping done online. You’ll save time and money, with apps like Honey and Keepa (both extensions for Google Chrome) that help you optimize your online shopping game by providing hidden coupon codes and price-tracking. Time to bring gift-giving into the 21st century!
3. Gift creatively.
And I don’t mean the kind of creative where the gift recipient tears the wrapping paper off, looks slowly up at you and, through a forced smile, says, “Oh, it’s a…plunger! How…creative.”
Just as the internet has revolutionized the world of holiday decor, so too has it forever changed how we answer the question “What should I get this person?” Now, you’re only a few keystrokes away from an endless number of homemade gift ideas for every coworker, friend, and family member.
Remember: It truly is the thought that counts. So this year, skip the gift cards. An afternoon spent picking up supplies at your local craft store will go a long way toward keeping your wallet plump, and nobody can say they’d prefer a gift you picked up on your way to the party to something you made ahead of time with your own holly-jolly hands.
4. Master the art of the potluck.
The holidays are an endlessly revolving door of parties that starts on Thanksgiving and won’t stop until January 2nd. Office parties, neighborhood white elephant exchanges, family gatherings, New Years extravaganzas: People come hungry, and feeding them can be an expensive ordeal.
To you, dear reader, I give the same advice I give my mother every year, as she scrambles frantically to prepare enough food for our annual cookie decorating contest: Mom, you’re not Jesus. You’re not gonna reach into the pantry, rub a couple of Ritz crackers together and suddenly have enough loaves and fish to feed the holiday masses. Embrace the potluck. It’ll keep you from having to worry about dietary restrictions and food allergies. Everyone at the party will get to contribute to the feast, and you’ll have a sleigh-load of free leftovers.
5. Open a holiday savings account.
You didn’t think I’d go this whole article without mentioning at least one way to actually MANAGE your finances, did you?
Bottom line: The four preceding steps won’t help you a lick if you don’t take time to lay out a holiday budget. Know how much you can afford to spend and plan accordingly.
The classic way of doing this is with a holiday savings account like the one offered by Neighborhood Credit Union. Contribute to your Christmas Savings Club account all year via payroll deductions or deposits, and then Neighborhood will send you a check in time for your holiday shopping!
Better yet: Open a Prize Savings Account with Neighborhood and you could be in the running to win $50,000. Almost anyone can start saving — you only need $25 to open the account.
If you wanna have the best holiday season ever, it’s never too early to start saving.
Must be 18 years or older. See myncu.com for full Prize Savings rules. Federally insured by the NCUA.