Christmas is one of the busiest times of year for manypeople. Shopping, office parties, schoolprograms, concerts, local parades and events…it is really easy to overcommit, get busy with everything, and forget to enjoy the true meaning ofChristmas altogether. This year, makethe holidays less hectic, less expensive, and see how having a minimalistChristmas can increase your credit score.
This postis sponsored by CreditRepair.com. All opinions are mine alone and are honestlyconveyed
While it may be tempting to want to spend a lot of money andrack up a lot of debt, it really isn’t necessary in order to have a wonderfuland fulfilling holiday. So, if you areworking on paying down bills and improving your credit,these tips will help.
Limit the Christmas gifts
This year, minimize the gifts and ask your child what two orthree items are that they’d really like to receive. Instead of helping put together a wish listthat is a mile long, help them decide which items they would actually use andappreciate the most.
For adults, limiting the gifts can still be fun. Here are few ideas to help your familyorganize the limited gift-giving:
Secret Santa
Have each adult family member draw one name and then buy agift for just that person—so they get their own secret Santa. No one finds out who is buying for who untilthe gifts are opened on Christmas day.Each person writes their name on a paper with either a few gift ideas orjust general things that they like—just so the person drawing the name has asense of what type of gift to buy. Set agift budget of $25 or $50 dollars, for example.Everyone get a gift and it’s much less expensive than buying gifts foreveryone!
Random gift drawing
Have a random drawing.Everyone who wants to participate buys a gift for a set dollar amountthat would be appropriate for anyone to receive (gift cards, money, lottotickets, etc.), then draw to see what number you get—that’s the order thatgifts will be chosen. When it’s yourturn, you can take a gift that has already been opened or you can take yourchances and pick an un-opened gift. Inthis game, the person with the last number gets the pick of the gifts. Lots of fun and everyone ends up with somethingnice!
White Elephant gift exchange
Have a white elephant gift exchange—find something aroundthe house that you don’t use anymore.You may be surprised what you find if you clean out your closet orattic! Okay, you won’t get any goodgifts, but these can be pretty entertaining!
The gift of time—couponbook
Create coupons for gifts.These don’t cost a thing because you are giving of your time. For example, you could gift your time to dothe following: cooking dinner one night, wash the car, clean the house, dolaundry, etc. Or it doesn’t have to bechore-related. Maybe it’s letting therecipient choose the movie you watch on TV for the night, or making time for awalk, or to play a board game… you can get really creative with these!
Related post: Don’tWaste Money on Christmas Gifts that No One Wants
Don’t open a bunch of new credit cards for holiday shopping
Yes, stores are probably offering extra savings, coupons, orin-store cash if you open a new credit card, but you might want to resist thetemptation. Every time you apply for anew credit card, your credit gets pulled, and too many inquiries can bring yourscore down. Decide ahead of time to usea credit card that you already have for whatever gifts you are going to buy, orjust pay in cash.
Find free, localevents
With the holiday season comes a plethora of events,concerts, and activities—many of which are free. Of course, this varies by area, but many ofthese events kick off in November—so be on the lookout early! You can check out your local area chamber ofcommerce for a list of events, check with the visitor’s bureau, or even newspapersfor free events offered locally. Ofcourse, there are several shows, concerts, and events that you must buy ticketsfor, however, you can have just as much fun and experience the Christmas fun atthe free events too—and save a ton of money!
Make homemade Christmas crafts and decorations
One thing that I love at Christmas is all of the beautifulholiday decor. Of course, you can waituntil after Christmas to buy the décor when it is on sale—and save it for nextyear—but you can also make your own for a fraction of the cost. Homemade crafts are a great way for kids toget involved during the holidays and you might even end up with some preciouskeepsakes made by your little ones. Ihave so many homemade ornaments on my Christmas tree every year that remind meof all the fun times that I’ve shared with my kids making them. If you are looking for some fun Christmascrafts, take a look at these posts:
HomemadeCinnamon Ornaments
5-MinuteHomemade Ornaments
ChristmasOrnaments that Your Kids Can Make that You Will Actually Want on Your Tree
DIYRustic Homemade Christmas Sign
And don’t forget how easy it is tomake the Christmas countdown chain from strips of red and green constructionpaper…
Forgo Christmas gifts for a family experience
Okay, this may not work if you have small kids, but if yourkids are teenagers or grown-up, taking a family vacation together and skippinggifts, might just be a good trade-off. Andthe vacation doesn’t need to be extravagant.Experiencing Christmas in a different location and in a different waywill definitely create lasting memories!Although, if everyone has agreed to go on a trip in lieu of buyinggifts, then that may free up some cash to make your holiday getaway a littlebit of a splurge. And, if your familydoesn’t mind waiting until January 1 to travel, you will probably also save aton of money. Typically, the cost oftravel is at a premium over the holidays when things are booked to capacity.
Have a plan to payoff your Christmas spending
Make sure you set your budget before you start spending money on Christmas gifts or travel. Saving throughout the year is a great idea,but if you haven’t done that, start planning out how much you can afford assoon as possible—and then don’t go over that limit! If you choose to use credit cards, make sureyou have a plan to make those payments on-time and get them paid off quickly. When you use credit cards in this manner, youcan actually help increase your credit score.
