‘Tis the season to shop and show everyone you know how much you love them. Less than a month from today, you will steal the morning with the nicest, most expensive and impressive gift ever and pay for it until March. Right? Maybe in days past, but not this year. This year, you can still show friends and family how much you love them without sending yourself in to debt. Because, guess what? Paying off Christmas well in to 2019=debt. It might be the status quo of most Americans, but you, friend, are NOT most Americans. Not this year.
1. Set the strictest budget you ever thought you could manage. I believe in you and you have to believe in you. Can you literally spare only $100 to shop for all your family and friends? Own it. DO it. Stick to it. You can do this and you might have to be creative. You can be creative, and I’m here to help!
2. Don’t be afraid to DIY. I’m not joking that one of my all-time favorite presents is in the photo above, my Cannoli coasters. My dear friend made them for me a few years ago and I still love them. Click HERE to make them yourself, and don’t forget to varnish them! Another great idea that everyone loves is homemade granola in a big ol’ mason jar. Click HERE for a fun Gingerbread Granola recipe! I’ve made it before and it’s delicious.
3. Sites like Craigslist and eBay (and in-person thrift stores, for that matter) are your friend. This is obviously not sponsored, but you’d be shocked at what you can find brand, spanking new that people bought and never used. Just type “new” or “NWT” (new with tags) in to the search bar on CraigsList and eBay, and you’ll find a treasure trove. Be careful with eBay, though. Make sure your item is being shipped from the US, or you have potential to wait a long time for delivery. Your gift recipients will never have to know that you bought their gift secondhand!
4. Remember that gifts aren’t everything. I know this sounds cliche, but if you truly can’t afford someone for someone, why not volunteer a shift at a local charity in their honor and give them a letter describing your experience in lieu of a gift? They’ll appreciate that you’re giving back to the community because of them and love that you’re not breaking the bank in their honor.
5. Still can’t afford it but really want to give something material? Time to side hustle! I repeat: Christmas is not a time to put yourself in to debt. As Dave Ramsey says, “Christmas is not an emergency. It happens every year on December 25.” Next year, save ahead of time, but, if you need money quickly, places like UberEats, Uber, VIPKids and Wag all take about a week to apply for. You can potentially start working and earning money in a week, so it makes sense to get the ball rolling today.
Alright, friends. You got this. No debt for Christmas, K? I’ll be back later this week with some fun, inexpensive gift ideas, so stay tuned! Happy Monday!!
