How to have more and spend less on Christmas!

December 25th comes every year.  No big surprise there.  Yet the older I get the faster it comes and it has caught me unprepared on several occasions. When I am unprepared I begin hoping that I will get some windfall or bonus from my employer  just at the time I need to start buying Christmas presents.  Seldom if rarely does that happen.  Next and final choice becomes the credit card.

If you have read my book you know that I am now a big proponent of downsizing the gifts and giving your children an “experience” rather than a gift. That is the entire reason I wrote the book.   You already know my personal story and so we can skip that.  Let’s talk about the steps to actually spending less and having more of a “Christmas” experience that will last in the memories of your family.

Today, I want to share the first step.  That is to set a budget.  The budget sheet below can be found in your “Making Christmas Memorable Planner”.  If you have not already downloaded it, you just need to subscribe using the form on the left side of this home page.  You will instantly receive a confirmation email which you will need to open and click on the confirmation. That will allow me permission to send you emails.  After you have confirmed your subscription you will receive a follow up email within 24 hours.  If you do not receive those files, please email me at info@threeperfectchristmasgifts.com.

I have tried to include all categories but have left some space for you to also write in any other expenses you may need to include in your budget.  For this first year of using the  budget sheet, look at what you have available NOW without credit and become creative in how you will budget. Will you use the Three Gift Tradition?  Where can you cut corners?  I promise you the peace of mind is worth the extra time to actually write down the budget.   It is also worth downsizing this first year to avoid paying the credit card bills all next year. Promise!

Watch the website for our next step.  I will give you a few days to download the budget sheet and start your planning.  Get ready, get set, go budget!