Were you ever involved in a pilot
study or project to evaluate whether something was worth putting into practice?
Most businesses or governments
will conduct a feasibility study or short-term experimental trial on a small
scale to determine the feasibility, time, cost, and adverse events prior to
implementing a project on a large scale.
Think of it this way. We may need to implement a pilot project for
our Christmas practices.
I often hear how stressed people are during this festive season. Year after year we identify where we go wrong but the problem is we forget our errors until it’s too late. We’re in the month of January staring at our plummeted bank balance in horror and attesting to the fact, “We overspent on Christmas again!”
The last thing Christmas should
be is s-t-r-e-s-s-f-u-l!
So what if we conducted a pilot
project to determine what we need to keep doing, stop doing, and start doing so
Christmas can be enjoyable.
A Do’s and Don’ts guide may help
keep our plans in perspective during the holiday activities and the Christmas
giving season. By sharing our thoughts and ideas, we can help each other spread
a little more joy and happiness.
The Do's
To begin on a positive note,
let’s focus on the Do’s.
1.
Do keep the enthusiasm going.
We are coming off the month of November which promoted smart financial planning techniques and ideas. We are revved
up! “Rah! Rah! Rah! Go after what you
really want!” And then what
happens? We run smack into December and
fall into a slump of repeating old habits. But this year will be different! We
have a guide to prevent us from falling into those small old traps. I, too, am
guilty of being lured into these same traps.
2. Do be aware of what you can and cannot
afford.
Be brave and honest with family
members about the money you can reasonably afford to spend on Christmas. Hiding the fact that you can’t afford to be generous
is a hindrance. Having a heart-to-heart family meeting and setting limits on
your Christmas gift exchange is a wise step. Coming together to discuss suggestions
like a recycled gift exchange may alleviate the financial stress. There’s an
old wise adage, “One person’s junk is another person’s treasure.” This may serve two purposes: scaling down on items you no longer use and
passing on an inexpensive gift.
3. Do keep in mind as people get older, the
last thing they need is more “stuff” they don’t need.
A common
theme seems to exist. We can all look
around our homes and garages and notice our accumulation of “stuff” we no
longer need or use. We may also have
received gifts which sit on our shelves or are packed in the back of our
closets. Be conscious of wasting money on gifts your family
and friends won’t use. Many times people say, “Whatever I need I go and buy for myself.” This may lead to family and friends
negotiating whether gifts should bought for anyone over eighteen.
4. Do keep a list of useful gifts.
If in doubt, buy socks! That’s what my elderly neighbor Caroline
always did. She had a generous heart
with a limited budget. Her heart was
always in the right place. She gave socks
as a Christmas gift because she knew they would be used and not stuffed in a
corner or be a dust collector for someone. If socks are not your “thing”, then
you can always give a plate of homemade goodies. No one says “No!” to food unless of course
it’s January 1st. There’s no
straight answer for the ideal gift. If
the gift comes from your heart, then the recipient will feel the love which
comes with the gift.
5. Do
be conscious of a child’s toy collection.
Our grandson has way too many toys.
I refused to buy another tractor for him to add to his accumulated
collection of five. My ideal gift is a
book but even books can easily become dust collectors. Recently, I stumbled
upon the ‘four-gift’ rule which is a custom where you buy only four gifts for
your children: what they want, what they need, something to wear, and
something to read. I realize some will scoff at the idea of downsizing the
number and the cost of their gifts to their children. We all
have choices. That’s understandable. We
earn our money and we have a right to spend it how we choose. The word of
caution is to watch for being “excessive” with our Christmas purchases. We might use this season of giving as a
teaching moment for children to share with others who are less fortunate.
6.
Do look out for the craziness in the cost of some items.
Lately, I became aware of one increasingly
popular “toy”, Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty. The jaw-dropping price of a small can of
just putty may amuse or dumbfound you.
If there ever is a time to attract people to pay good money for entertaining
stuff, it certainly would be Christmas.
The proof is in the pudding (or in this case the putty!)
The Don'ts
Now our attention turns to the
Don’ts. Just nod as you read through the
list when you catch yourself saying, “I
do that!” Our focus is to stop and
think about what we are doing. These may
be our greatest Christmas money-wasters.
1. Don’t overstock on groceries.
With the additional company
between Christmas and New Year’s, we seem to be brainwashed into believing we
will run out of food. We have a tendency
to prepare more than we will ever eat.
We tend to be overly cognizant of
our needs for chocolate and nuts. These Christmas cravings lead us to overspend
on these luxury treats. We justify the need
for extra boxes as Christmas gifts or a kind gift offering to the hostess for
inviting us for a meal. What happens? We find ourselves still eating these
leftover chocolates in June. There is nothing wrong with eating chocolates any
time of the year but stockpiling beyond our limit at Christmas is silly.
2. Don’t prepare too much food.
The extra baking and casseroles tend to
go into the freezer and later have to be tossed. Hands up if you do that? Mine is the first! Do you know what happens when you try to give
food away? When New Year’s Day comes, no
one wants it because (surprise!) everyone is dieting. It’s their New Year’s
resolution.
3. Don’t leave your Christmas shopping until
the last possible day.
When we have a tendency to delay our Christmas
shopping, we find ourselves rushing through purchases which results in the
wrong and costly choices. We may miss
possible sale prices on items and we are forced to pay full price.
4. Don’t shop to impress.
Generous hearts lead to generous gifts when we
lavishly want to spoil our loved ones. Our
love should not be reflected in the price we pay for any gift. If it is, I must stress that we need to be
prepared for the financial consequences. One article I read tells it like it
is, Enjoy the Holiday Season without paying for it in January.
And I might add, in all the months which
follow.
5. Don’t be swayed by marketing schemes.
When you
are shopping for Christmas décor, the fanciest tree, the brightest and
prettiest lights, and the most beautiful wreath all come with a price. The best
time to shop for these items is on Boxing Day. For some, our wallets won’t allow it because
we have exceeded our Christmas budget by that time. So as we pack away the decorations this
year, the infamous line, “preparation
relieves (financial) pressure” tells us to start planning for next year. I can hear the rant. “We don’t have the same selection at the end of the season as we do at
the beginning.” I believe the compromise is tucking money aside in a savings
account in advance for the things you want.
The Bonus
This bonus list is a must in our
guide to a “Merry Christmas!”
- Take time to appreciate what you have.
- Take time to slow down even for a minute.
- Take time to determine what you really want.
- Take time to remember the people who are less fortunate.
Just “nod” as you read through this
list when you catch yourself saying, “I
do that!” and your Christmas is sure to be merry and bright.
If you have any improvements to
add to our Christmas pilot study, please pass along any advice on what to stop,
start, or keep doing so that you can K.I.S.S. and have a Merry Christmas. Leave
me a comment below!
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