1999 Volunteer Leadership Training Guide
How Do You Manage the Holidays
Printer Friendly Version (PDF)
Target Audience
• Introduction
• Activity
• Ask For Comments
• Make A Spending Plan
• Shop Wisely •
Be Careful with Credit
• Reduce Holiday Expenses
• Summary
Target Audience
Extension Homemakers
Introduction
To begin the program ask for member comments:
Do you do holiday shopping early or late in the season?
What was your biggest holiday gift-buying blunder?
How many of you think you spend too much on holiday gifts?
Activity
Have members complete the "How
Do You Handle the Holidays" quiz (Handout 1).
Financial pressure adds to ALL the other pressures of the holiday. No one
EVER has enough time, energy or money from Thanksgiving until Christmas. There
is much temptation to spend too much money during the holidays. Holidays are
irresistible – every store display, newspaper and/or commercial (not to mention
the kids) scream buy, buy, buy! Today we will discuss how to better manage the
time and financial aspects of the Christmas Holiday season.
Ask for Comments
Why do we buy, or overbuy? Examples may be: Children wants, make someone
happy, make you happy, guilt, "keeping up," "supposed to" – it’s expected.
Sources estimate the average parent spends approximately $300 per child at
Christmas. So, how can you better manage holiday expenditures? (You may ask for
member ideas or wait until the end of the lesson.)
Make a Spending Plan
When preparing to better manage the holiday season, first make a spending
plan. First decide who to buy gifts for; include the entire family when these
decisions are made. Set limits on the total amount of money to be spent on gifts
for family and friends. Divide the amount you plan to spend by 12 and try to
begin saving that amount each month, beginning in January. You may want to make
this a separate fund and pay it as if it is a bill to be paid each month. You
may also want to think of using payroll deduction. Stick to the plan; remember
that impulse buying is a budget buster!
Shop Wisely
Some people get really depressed if they do not have all their Christmas
shopping done by Thanksgiving. Others don’t begin to shop until at least
December 23! These people like to live dangerously. When and how you shop
depends on you and your tolerance and frustration level. It’s up to you.
However, think about this. Don’t go without a list, and include ideas, color
preferences, sizes, etc. Ask for gift ideas from family members. Shop early when
stores open. Avoid lunch hours, weekends, nights and the day after Thanksgiving
(the BIGGEST retail shopping day of the entire year). Dress comfortable. Have
you ever purchased something that costs too much because you were tired, your
feet hurt and you just wanted to get the shopping over with? Also, keep all
receipts, tags, etc., just in case! You can shop by mail, but remember to order
early and order from reliable retailers. Using the Internet to shop is great,
but as with shopping by mail, be careful.
Be Careful With Credit
You can keep an excellent record of all your holiday expenses by charging all
gifts on one card. You will have an excellent record and can pay the entire
balance at the end of the month. It is also easier to return or exchange items
if they have been purchased with a credit card. Know your personal credit limit.
Many times it is less than the credit limit given to you by the credit card
company. The limits may be too high for you to afford, especially if you have
several cards. Know what you owe at all times.
Reduce Holiday Expenses
If you have more presents to buy than money, it’s time to make changes.
Reduce the number of presents you buy. Set limits on the amount to be spent on
gifts and STICK TO THEM. Ask friends what they really want. An inexpensive gift
may be more welcome than an expensive one. Buy presents on sale, but only if you
are sure they will please the recipient. Learn to say NO! Be honest with family
and friends – is this trip, gift, party, etc., really necessary? Send Christmas
postcards instead of cards, they are more personal as well as less expensive to
purchase and mail. If storage is not a problem, purchase cards, decorations,
wrapping paper and other holiday items on sale AFTER the holidays.
Summary
Discuss member responses to quiz.
| Remember: Make a plan. |
Involve the family.
Keep good records.
Emphasize saving, not spending.
Enjoy the holiday! |
Wanda Shelby, District Extension Family
Resource Management Specialist
Back to 1999 Volunteer Leader Training Guide
|
