Christmas is supposedly the birthday of our Savior, and it should convey the message of saving. Unfortunately it has become a season of extravagance. People tighten their purses for 11 months, only to squander altogether at the end of the year.
This Yuletide, let us review how we can be good money-gers even in the midst of revelry.
1. Don’t cook more than your family can consume. It has become customary for us Filipinos to eat during the Christmas Eve. Even the types of food have become customary, as well — queso de bola, ham, chestnuts, and other expensive but innutritious foodstuffs. Most often, too, we prepare them in excess, making allowance for our neighbors. Tip: cook just enough for your family. You can still give portion to the family next door without running short of food. Remember, the other family cooks too, and just like you do, they think of giving you a portion of their preparations. In closely knit neighborhood, it may be wise to distribute preparations, so that one family takes care of spaghetti, another of salad and yet another of crema de fruta. The Eve will be celebrated happily with a variety of foodstuffs without doing a variety of preparations.
2. Prefer low-cost decorations over fancy but costly ones. Christmas decors share a big cut in our year-end budget. Some families do not keep tree lights properly so that they need to replace them year after year. Don’t feel miserable if your rich neighbor affords to buy a giant tree, and yours is just a little taller than your toddler. These are not necessities for Christmas joy. Many homes have enough money for classy ornaments but fail to reminisce the true essence of Yule. It is always a wise move to limit our expenses within our spending capacity.
3. Don’t leave your lights overnight. Electric bills often bloat as a result of electric-operated Christmas decorations, especially Christmas lights. Manufacturers may claim power efficiency, but leaving lights overnight will rotate your meters so much that you feel like rotating your necks after the Seasons. Worse, they can be a good source of fire. Put them off as you go to bed. Don’t worry if late-night passers-by will notice your dark façade. Lights don’t comprise the Christmas spirit.
4. Give gifts to satisfy, not to impress. Some people feel compelled to buy luxurious gifts, not really to give joy to the receiver, but to create impressions that they are luxurious givers. What a selfish motive replacing the supposedly selfless motive of giving! In choosing gifts, there are two things we must always bear in mind: what the receiver needs, and what the giver can afford. We give gifts to please the receiver, not to please ourselves in the end.
5. Have a definite buy list when going to stores. Among the greatest temptations in Christmas shopping is buying things more than we truly need — and can afford. Some department stores use scents that by research can boost impulse to buy. Products are so designed to appear tempting to the consumer. There is a powerful antidote to these spells: know what to buy before you even leave your house! A clear-cut buy list also reduces shopping time. Unless you truly need them, don’t purchase stuffs just because they are on sale. Remember that even sales can be temptations.
A merry Christmas is a thrifty Christmas. A truly light heart is a heart free of anxiety when our purses are intact. Spend right and enjoy the Seasons!
No comments:
Post a Comment