Defending Your Bank Account During the Holiday Blitz
The most wonderful time of the year is here, which means good times with friends and family as you celebrate the end of another year, or the end of the world if the Mayans are correct. Even if the ancient civilization is wrong, this season could still lead you to your own personal financial apocalypse if visions of sugarplums blind you to the cost of all those gifts.
You probably don’t want to sully the beautiful sentiments of the season with thoughts of budgets and savings. The holidays are supposed to be a time for giving. However, even if you can’t put a price on the smile of a child who just received a pricey gift, your credit card company certainly has no such qualms. Smiles come and go, but interest charges can last forever!
Thankfully, you can still have a wonderful holiday season without channeling your inner Scrooge. Of course, it won’t be easy to resist the temptation to splurge as you’re inundated with advertisements for high-definition television and 0% financing on new cars. However, a little bit of foresight can go a long way toward bringing financial peace and goodwill to your household in 2013.
The key is developing a well-considered gift list and sticking to it. Do not overestimate your ability to control yourself as you aimlessly wander through malls and shopping centers. Retailers are second only to casinos in their ability to manipulate your feelings and actions. They know how to plant the seed of desire inside of you through eye-catching displays, colorful environments, pleasing music, and even savory aromas. Throw in a 50% discount and you could very well be on your way to a spending free-for-all.
You have to avoid the temptation to window-shop. Instead, once you have your list of gifts, map out the possible destinations where you can purchase those items. You may also want to engage in some good, old-fashioned comparison shopping, albeit with all the conveniences of modern technology. If you have a smartphone, download one of many apps that will instantly provide you with prices from numerous vendors for any product you scan at the store. If playing tug-of-war with crazed parents over the last of this year’s Furby or Tickle Me Elmo is not your idea of a good time, you can always avoid the crowds entirely and get the same price-comparison benefits through online shopping. (Although, at this point, you may pay a premium for shipping to get it under the tree in time.)
You may also want to think outside the box and avoid traditional retail establishments entirely. Flea markets, antique stores, and thrift shops can all potentially yield unique gifts at bargain prices. If you are seriously interested in giving that special someone a one-of-a-kind gift, consider making something yourself. There are plenty of homemade presents you can make without much difficulty — such as a photo album or baked goods — that are more personal than anything you’ll find in a store.
The best way to save money is not to spend it in the first place. Given the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that gifts are merely designed to be a physical manifestation of the feelings we have for those we love. Understanding this simple fact, you can bypass this process entirely by reflecting on all the good things in your life, and telling the ones you love what they mean to you. This, rather than wrapped merchandise, is the true spirit of the holiday season.