The world intensifies our restlessness. Advertisements entice us to buy this, spend that, and to borrow against tomorrow so we can have what we want today. …good deals urge us on, creating desires that we never knew we had.[i]
In December, the strong desire to give gifts often messes with the weakening willpower not to increase debt. December is a month of conflicting emotions. To keep the joy in Christmas a plan is needed.
Don’t spend more than you can afford. Define who you will give to and how much money will be spent on gifts.
Think outside the box. One idea to try is inspired by the classic song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. Why not do a different new thing every day for twelve days in a row to pay for Christmas gifts? Start early, rather than the traditional twelve days before Christmas.
Day One: Take a sack lunch today. Put the $8 not spent at noon in a designated Christmas $ jar.
Day Two: Grocery shop. Buy only what’s on the list. Resist putting anything else in the cart. Mentally note the tempting items that would ordinarily be bought: cookies $3.49, magazine $4.99, chocolate bars $5.29, deli meat tray $9.99—a total $23.76 of extras. Upon arriving home, $23.76 gained from “extras denied” goes in the jar.
Day Three: Rent, or purchase, a movie from your TV provider. Don’t go to the Cinema. Pop the popcorn at home. A family of four could stuff $50 in the Christmas jar.
Day Four: Take inventory of gift items you already own: a package of bungee cords, family heirlooms, a T-shirt from a favorite ball team. . . Assign each a dollar value and put more money in the jar.
Day Five: Create a Christmas letter with pictures and family news bites. Don’t buy ready-made cards. Another $30-$50 can go in the jar. E-mail delivery saves on postage.
Day Six: Give coupon gifts: A car wash once a month for three months ($7 x 3 = $21. Plan, cook, and serve a special dinner = $30-$40. Dog sit for a three-day weekend = $40. Ideas are endless and all have value.
Your Christmas cash is growing! The above ideas were meant to get you started. Now plan days seven through twelve, customize how to store up cash during your twelve days of Christmas.
Agree to spend no more than what is in the jar. Making wise choices keeps the merry in Christmas and finances on track. Remember gift giving is about showing love, not impressing people.
[i] David Roper, Psalm 23 The Song of a Passionate Heart, 1994 Discovery House Publishers, p. 20
