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Wednesday, 20 August 2008 12:01 |
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January 2, 2006
The True Cost of the Holidays Written by Thomas Martucci
The holidays are now behind us, all the presents have been
exchanged and opened and the decorations put away for next year.
Like a ton of bricks, it hits us! We begin to receive our credit
card and bank statements and when we open them we all feel "this
can"t possibly be right!" but after careful review we come to
find it is. After the initial shock of how much we actually
spent during the holiday season, we begin to rationalize our
spending "we only do this once a year," "after all, the kids had
a great time," and the rationalization can go on and on.
We will now pay off our debt for months and maybe even the
entire year. Let this year be the last year this debt falls upon
you.
Before you allow time to pass, start doing the following three
things:
1. Calculate how much you really spent on the holidays this past
year. 2. Calculate how much you really need to spend next year
and start budgeting for it. You can do this by using our Holiday
Spending Worksheet and Budget located at
www.budgetkeepersystem.com. 3. Determine and start implementing
how you are going to save the money for next years holiday
shopping.
Our Holiday Spending Worksheet is broken down into three major
areas as follows:
Gifts: For immediate family, friends, relatives, office
personnel, etc. capture your spending from this past season by
calculating your receipts and credit card and bank statements.
Food/Entertaining: These categories are the forgotten
categories. Try to calculate how much money you spent on holiday
entertaining, this will include things like food, alcohol, soft
drinks, baking items and that new sweater.
Decorations: Don"t forget about the cost of decorating your
house/apartment for the holidays. The lights, trees and
ornaments all add up!
Now that you have calculated all your expenses, I believe you
will agree that the actual amount you spent was a lot more than
you anticipated. As they say "don"t cry over spilled milk."
Let"s just make sure we are more prepared and careful with our
spending for next year.
The basic philosophy of the BUDGETkeeper SYSTEM is that you
should sit down with your significant other (if applicable) to
review and discuss your holiday spending and the true cost. Now
is the time to ask some questions and start budgeting for next
year.
1) Relative Gifts: Is gift giving to aunts, uncles and cousins
really necessary? This gift giving does add up to a lot of
money. I"m sure they are all faced with the same situation as
you. Maybe you should all discuss and agree to exchange one
family gift or even better yet, no gift exchanging at all. 2)
Immediate Family Gifts: Were three pairs of pants and ten toys
for each child really necessary? Think this through and
determine how much you are going to spend next year on each
member of your immediate family. 3) Friends: Maybe exchanging
some sort of homemade item like cookies would be a good idea
instead of buying a present next year. 4) Decorations: Are you
surprised at the amount spent on decorations? Maybe next year
you can just use the decorations you have without purchasing
additional ones. 5) Food: Every holiday season we go overboard
on food. Stop to think how much food was thrown away after the
holiday season. Maybe next year you could cut back on the
quantity of food purchased. Make a single batch of cookies
instead of a double batch. 6) Entertainment/Holiday Cards: How
many unnecessary holiday cards did you mail? Is it necessary to
send a holiday card to every person on your block? Did you
really need to purchase a new sweater for your holiday party?
Next year mail holiday cards only to relatives or friends you
have not seen or talked to in long while and wear that same
holiday sweater to your party, nobody will remember.
Now that you have reviewed and planned for your next years
holiday budget, attach to your Holiday Spending Worksheet and
Budget notes on how you are going to change your spending habits
for the next year. Put this information in your October file so
you have it readily available next year when it comes time for
holiday shopping.
You now have to determine how you are going to start saving for
next year. Why not join a Holiday Club or open a new savings
account just for the holidays and always remember that "Cash is
King" and credit cards are not an option for next year"s holiday
season.
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Monday, 10 March 2008 01:00 |
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The holidays will be here before you know it. Clear the way for
greater joy, love and meaning this year by busting these sources
of holiday stress:
1. Too much to do in too little time.
*This week, set holiday priorities with your family. Discuss
what traditions to keep, which to discard, and which new
traditions to try.
*Make a holiday to-do list NOW and create a realistic schedule
for when to accomplish each item.
*Avoid overscheduling.
*Ask family members for help with holiday tasks.
2. Long lines in stores.
*Shop via catalog or Internet, and avoid stores on weekends if
you can.
*If you"re shopping with small children, take along snacks,
books, toys or other items to make waiting in line more
pleasant. Or, if you"re sufficiently uninhibited, sing a holiday
song with your child.
*If you"re shopping alone, use waiting time to relax and and
center yourself with meditation or prayer. Try directing your
attention to your breathing at your belly. Or practice observing
the people around you through the eyes of compassion, without
judging. Give thanks or pray for healing, peace, or other
concerns close to your heart.
3. Difficult relatives.
*Take some quiet time to develop a plan for taking care of
yourself around relatives who “get your goat.”
*Invest in yourself by using a therapist to help create a plan
to protect your boundaries.
4. Cranky kids.
*Think "low key" for a happy celebration with little ones.
Remember that your small child thrives on your undivided
attention and has a limited capacity to adjust to adult "needs"
to hurry.
*Protect your child"s naptime and playtime.
*Spend floor-time with your child every day.
5. Commercialism.
*Create family traditions that involve giving to those in need.
*Focus on low-cost or no-cost holiday traditions.
*Help keep children"s expectations realistic. For example, you
might say You"ll get about the same amount of presents as you
did on your birthday.
6. Bills!
*Decide on a holiday budget for entertaining and gifts.
* If credit cards make overspending too easy, stick to cash for
holiday purchases.
7. Loss.
* If you have lost a loved one, the holidays may intensify your
grief. Explore ways to cope at
www.griefnet.org/library/articles/hfa-tips.html or
www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=FL00055.
*If holiday blues persist or seem particularly intense, don"t
hesitate to reach out for professional help. Your physician or
clergyperson can give you a referral.
8. Post-holiday let-down.
*Spread out the fun at least through the end of school vacation
by planning an outing or a fun time at home for each day.
*Have a party and finish your leftover holiday sweets the night
before school resumes.
A little forethought and planning can go a long way towards
making you glad the holidays are coming - instead of just glad
when they"re over. Your wisdom holds the key to holiday joy.
© 2004 Norma Schmidt, Coach, LLC
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Friday, 16 November 2007 02:00 |
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Suffolk, UK, 9 June 2005 – Caravan Holidays Just 4 U announce
that their luxury six berth caravan by the Suffolk Coast, at the
popular Broadland Sands resort near Lowestoft, is now available
to rent for short breaks as well as family holidays. They have
also added a range of deals and discounts to help senior
citizens and those booking early, plus a massive reduction on
the price of a second week’s stay during certain dates and
special prices for existing clients. Situated right next to a
long beautiful sandy beach, the luxury holiday caravan can also
make use of all the free amenities of the Broadland Sands
resort, including the heated swimming pool complex (May to
Sept), entertainments club, sports bar, restaurant, tennis
courts and more. The holiday caravan is well stocked to cater
for all the family, with games for the kids, CD’s, videos, books
and fully equipped with new bedding and cooking utensils. As the
Darcy family from Hertfordshire said “great holiday, fantastic
caravan and brilliant value for money”. A Suffolk holiday has
something for everyone from sandy beaches, swimming pools and
fishing trips to beautiful marshland walks, historic castles and
too many museums to mention. The popular resort of Great
Yarmouth and the old fishing port of Lowestoft are a short drive
away from the holiday park. Broadland Sands along the Coastal
Road at Corton near Lowestoft, is great for a fun packed family
holiday or a quiet weekend break, with an unspoilt coastline and
beautiful villages for you to explore. Caravan Holidays Just 4 U
still have some availability for Summer 2005 and are now taking
bookings for Spring and Summer 2006. Just call or email to check
availability.
For further information visit our website at
www.caravanholidaysjust4u.co.uk. For information on Broadland
Sands a full colour brochure is available from Tricia Pomfrey -
just call the number below or email Mrs Tricia Pomfrey. Tel:
01234 823553 http://www.caravanholidaysjust4u.co.uk/
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