Surviving Christmas
Not everyone views Christmas as the most magical time of the year. For many, Christmas is the season for stress, financial insecurity, and self-critical thoughts. There’s no denying that Christmas is one of the most expensive days on the calendar; as a nation, we spend around £1,108 per person during the festive period. With 1 in 6 Britons increasing their debt over the winter months. Many parents feel a sense of shame and failure when it comes to spending at Christmas. There are many ways to help with surviving Christmas, and hopefully, we can help you.
We’re bombarded with Christmas adverts from as early as October. And the pressure to get everything right and create the ‘perfect’ Christmas can be completely overwhelming. Every day can be a struggle when you’re short on money and the pressures of Christmas can seem inescapable.
So I’m here to drop a few truth bombs about Christmas. And money because the fact of the matter is this:
Christmas isn’t about lavish gifts, extra fancy food, drunken nights out, or buying a new party frock. Christmas is about spending time with your loved ones and remembering that, no matter what, they will always love you.
Here are 5 tips on how to survive the Christmas period. Especially when you’re struggling to deal with the financial implications of the season.
- Create YOUR version of Christmas
Social media has created a version of Christmas that many of us feel pressured into pursuing. It’s created the idea that in order for everyone to have a wonderful Christmas. We must provide the family with matching Christmas pyjamas, cook a huge turkey. Go on a wholesome woodland walk, and take part in all manner of quaint traditions. This is not the case – Christmas is 100% what you make it!
The chances are that your children really won’t care about matching PJs. The Christmas Dinner police won’t come knocking on your door if you’ve downgraded from a turkey to something cheaper. If you don’t want to drag your family outside in the cold for a wholesome family walk (that we all know is never wholesome), don’t! You do you – go and make your own Christmas traditions and do the things that make you happy.
- You’re not a failure if you can’t afford Christmas.
Sometimes, even though we know that we don’t need to make everything extra special, we still want to. It can be particularly hard to be kind to yourself when you can’t afford to sprinkle the Christmas magic in the way that you want to. But remember, having to pull back from the extravagance of Christmas doesn’t make you a failure. In fact, knowing your limits and scaling back your festivities to live within your means shows that you’re strong and resilient. It also sets the pathway to financial education for your children who will see your sensible attitude towards money and learn from it.
- Start saving early on.
If it’s too late for you to start saving for this Christmas, then why not start saving for next year instead? Some people find having a savings account dedicated to Christmas is what works best for them, others prefer a good old fashioned money jar. Find a savings method that works for you and stick to it as best you can. Sometimes there will be setbacks, like unexpected bills, that may leave you short of money, but don’t feel deflated! Life is full of these little quirks, and if, for whatever reason, your savings need to be raided, that’s okay. Being able to live comfortably with a roof over your head and food in your belly is more important than buying Christmas presents.
The key to consistently saving money is to set a realistic, achievable goal. Decide if you’d like to save daily, weekly, or monthly and create a spreadsheet of your budget that includes your regular savings deposit. By treating your savings deposit as if it were a regular bill, you’ll be able to save without worrying about being able to afford your other expenses.
- Make use of your store loyalty points.
Store up the points that you earn from your usual weekly shop in supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s and use them to help you survive Christmas. Store loyalty points can be used in the place of cash to make purchases on gifts or Christmas food. Not only that, but loyalty card schemes also offer experience days, flights, petrol, and so much more in exchange for your hard-earned points. Make the most of these benefits at Christmas to get a little bit of extra bang for your buck.
- Make a little extra cash by selling unused items.
If you’ve got items lying around that you haven’t used since last Christmas, it’s time to sell them! Shopping secondhand is a great way to pick up a bargain Christmas present – especially for the kids – but it also means that you have a chance to make some extra money in time for Christmas. If you have old toys, Christmas decor you no longer want, clothes, or even empty appliance boxes, sell them! This can make surviving Christmas so much easier for you and your family.
Being short of money at Christmas time isn’t the end of the world.
If you’re struggling this Christmas, please remember that it isn’t the end of the world. Christmas is just one day and, although it is nice to celebrate it lavishly, it isn’t necessary. If you’ve got a low income this year, there are still plenty of ways to make sure you and your family enjoy a magical Christmas together. I hope that these tips have been of some help and have given you the reassurance that Christmas is what YOU make it, not about what you buy. Surviving Christmas can be easy.