Fun Fact: Jingle Bells was actually written for Thanksgiving.

So how do you enjoy this time of year without bankrupting yourself?  That’s a tough one.  But not impossible!  These are some tips that I’ve found helpful.

• Start Inexpensive Traditions.  Traditions with your family don’t have to cost an arm and a leg.  They can be as simple as getting together to make cookies or taking an evening to drive around your neighborhood, equipped with hot chocolate, and gazing at all the lights. If you want to get really creative, gather family members together for a live reading/reenactment of A Christmas Carol.  It’s bound to get laughs and enjoyment for all.  And best of all it’s free!
• Begin a Holiday Savings Fund.  If you start setting aside money in January, you’ll be surprised how much you have by December.  Even if it’s just $20 here and there, it can quickly add up by the holidays.  And an extra $400 will go a long ways!  Thank you grandma for passing that tip on.
• Help Out the Needy.  Yep, that’s right.  I said it.  Now before you get indignant and panicked, hear me out.  The economy is hard right now, for all of us.  It’s difficult to imagine getting through the holidays ourselves, let alone helping a total stranger.  However, a small shift in perspective can make a huge difference for the positive.  The holidays can be hard, especially for someone who has lost everything or a child who’s stricken with sickness by no fault of their own.  Helping can be as simple as donating canned food to a shelter.  Or doing a toy-drive for a Children’s Hospital.  Something that takes you a few hours can bring a great deal of joy to someone else.  And, heck, it feels pretty darn good.  What better way to show your kids what the holidays are really about?  You’ll be glad you did and so will they.
• Manage Expectations and Set Limits.  Having 25 people or more to buy for can be daunting.  A great way to overcome this is to set limits on how much you each spend.  Also, doing a name draw with larger families is great.  And with kids, usually it’s the joy of opening presents that they love.   Not every present has to be expensive- you can even individually wrap pairs of socks!
• Remind Yourself Daily Why You Are Celebrating.  The holidays aren’t meant for stress, anxiety and disappointment.  They are meant for love, giving thanks and honoring tradition and/or religion.  So why do we feel such pressure?  Because we put it on ourselves.  A simple reminder every morning goes a long way to keeping the spirit of the holidays with you in a joyful way.

Enjoying the holiday season, while sometimes hard, is not impossible.  Just remember why you’re celebrating and take comfort in the people around you.  And if all else fails, sit next to the fire with a hot toddy and a Dickens classic.  If that doesn’t put you in the mood, I don’t know what will!

Fun Fact: If Santa brought gifts to every child on Christmas Eve, he’d have to make 822 visits PER second.  He would be sleighing about 3,000 times the speed of sound. Oy!