Tag Archives: Holiday spending

How to be frugal and save money this holiday season

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By Hari Subramanian

Special to the Financial Independence Hub

Knock knock! Who’s there? Holidays! Holidays who? Holidays that make your savings go boohoo! The holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving is just around the corner (Nov. 28th in the US) and before you know it, people will be lighting the Christmas tree again.

I don’t mean to be a party pooper, but the holiday season can make a large dent on your savings and could even leave you with a sizable credit card debt. Constantly worrying about your dwindling bank balance can dampen your festive spirit. Thankfully, there are a few frugal ways to ensure that your savings don’t take a hit while you enjoy the holidays with loved ones.

Plan the holiday budget and stick to it

Sit down with your family and make a list of all the things you need to buy for the holidays: food, drinks, sweets, decor, party accessories, gifts and more. Don’t forget to include an estimated cost for every item on your shopping list. Cut down on a few things if you feel that the budget is overshooting the acceptable expense limit. Now comes the difficult part: once the holiday budget is ready, try and stick to it as much as you can. Use budgeting apps like Mint that allows you to set a budget, track your expenses by linking to your debit and credit cards, and notify you when you are about to exceed your budget limit.

Go easy on the sale

Come holiday season and a barrage of online/offline sales line up to woo consumers by offering competitive discounted pricing. Black Friday sale, Christmas sale, and Boxing Day sale are ready to pounce on us with massive discounts. Before you hop on the sale-crazy bandwagon, put your credit card aside and think about whether you really need those pair of boots or the new iPhone. Once you compartmentalize your wants from your needs, you would eventually go easy on the sale. Let necessities and not sale pricing be the driving force for shopping.

Rewards card to the rescue

Christmas rings an ominous bell for credit-card debts. While shopping excessively on credit cards could spell doom, not all credit-card expenses are bad, especially if you have a credit card that dishes out good rewards or cash back. A smart way to use credit cards is to accumulate reward points throughout the year and redeem them during holiday shopping. If your credit card gives you good cash back returns when you purchase at a specific store, ensure that you do a bulk of holiday shopping from that store. Continue Reading…

Rekindling our inner creativity and frugality this Holiday season 

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By Maria Weyman, creditcardGenius

Special to the Financial Independence Hub

Gifts, parties, drinks, and yes … food! Is there a more expensive time of year than … now?

Staying on the straight and narrow road of financial responsibility means we can’t go about our lives like a zombie (oh wait, wrong holiday )…

But how do we stay frugal (yes, I’m using the F word), and keep fun within arm’s reach?

It’s all about creativity

… not sacrifice.

So, don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to create two separate lists for needs and wants. Instead, let’s stick with one master list: where you list your full holiday needs and wants.

Now, here’s the thing. At the bottom of your list, write the max dollar amount you plan on spending for everything. But before you write that single number down … a little research would help, like:

How much disposable money –- after your fixed expenses and savings goals –- do you have in the bank?

(No, your credit card limit doesn’t count.)

Working with that single number –- your maximum budget –- it’s time to break it down into chunks depending on what’s in your list. Now we’re cooking.

You’ll feel a little bit of tension. An internal struggle when you’re deciding how and where to allocate your holiday spend. Completely normal. That just means our brain is getting warm and prime to let our creative juices flow. Because here’s a not-so-obvious secret:

Constraints and limitations drive creativity.

Make it a game

Because games are fun. And at its core, aren’t games all about solving problems and overcoming specific challenges?

Even more fun when you get to save, indulge yourself, and spoil the people you love in the process. And here’s the best part:

You get to create the rules.

Here are some questions and suggestions:

Review your list

When you review your list…

  • Is there anything that you can get pre-loved (say hello to Kijiji, Craigslist, and even Facebook)?
  • Is there anything that you can create yourself (using a little help from Pinterest and YouTube)?
  • Is there anything that you can borrow from friends and family?
  • Is there something that you can replace with something that is just as good or better?
    • Example: if you’re thinking of getting your bff that beautiful warm $50 scarf, how about a) inviting her over for home-cooked dinner?, or b) volunteer to watch over the kid(s) for an afternoon so she can have a “me time”?

Anytime you can DIY [Do it Yourself], borrow, replace or get something pre-loved…write down how much you’re saving. Obviously, the bigger the number, the bigger the genius you are.

What’s at stake? Well, that’s for you to decide.

Free is fun

Let’s stop and think about all the free things we’re getting online; amazing isn’t it?

So, back to your list. Is there anything you’ve listed that is available for free? Some ideas …

  • Free local events: Check Eventbrite for current and upcoming local events, some have tickets for sale and some are free.
  • Free stuff. Browse Kijiji and Cragslist free stuff and see if there’s a match on what’s on your list.
  • Other freebies: like games, baby stuff, etc.

7 DIY gift ideas

Ideas from easy to advanced …

  1. Personalized christmas tree ornament: grab a box of blank-canvas ornaments from the dollar store, markers, and stickers … and have fun!
  2. Vanilla infused vodka for baking, etc.: Better alternative than that boring store-bought “vanilla extract” (cheap vodka is welcome).
  3. Chocolate spoon mixer like this one is delish.
  4. Ready-to-go hot cocoa and marshmallow in a jar: drool-worthy ideas here.
  5. Homemade chocolate and caramel dips: you can find glass bottles at the dollar store and recipes for chocolate and caramel dips are abundant.
  6. Decorated candle holder. You can go from simple elegance to elaborate, some ideas here.
  7. Festive painted glassware: Grab a (wine) glass (you guessed it, from the dollar store), enamel paint (specific for glasses), paint brushes, and … some inspiration! The best news? Sky’s the limit to your pattern and design.

These ideas are by no means exhaustive, but I hope it’s a good starting point to get you thinking of the possibilities.

The bottom line

Gifts, parties, drinks, and yes … food.

We’re entering a time where abundance and indulgence are celebrated. And while, no doubt, there are worse things in the world, over-indulgence only feels good for a moment.

So let’s make sure the reality we come back to after this holiday is a happy one for you and your wallet.

Maria Weyman is Co-Founder of creditcardGenius, the only tool that compares 50+ features of more than 150 Canadian credit cards using math-based ratings and rankings that respond to your needs, instantly. Follow on Twitter and Facebook.

 

‘Tis the season of merry debts

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depositphotos_36811637_s-2015“It’s that renowned time when much debt is racked up during the spree of merry.”

The season of joyful giving hovers in our merry midst once again.

Some finances get stressed and stretched to the max — like credit cards creeping past their safe outer limits. The reasons don’t matter, it’s the outcomes that really count.

Easy credit is everywhere. It seems so painless at first. Just sign those tempting card offerings that sail through email and mail slots. Voila, it’s done. I receive at least a couple new flavours every month.

People love to be generous during these merry times. Yet good intentions can lead to frightful finances. A frosty thought that may cost dearly. Possibly, even a brush with financial ruin.

For example, making the minimum monthly payment on credit cards is akin to a slow financial death. With interest rates in the 20% ballpark, it takes a lifetime to pay off balances.

Good Samaritans wanted

Let’s reflect a little on the season that incurs those merry debts. Individuals who spend more than they can afford usually don’t do it intentionally. As we know, stuff happens: all in the spirit of giving.

Continue Reading…