Pre-Christmas Priorities
It’s the end of the year, and suddenly your sensible finances start to slip. It’s hard to avoid- you have the strain of Christmas shopping, Christmas get-togethers and parties as well as the lurking new years resolutions that will make it all better. It’s easy to let down your guard. So here are some pre-Christmas priorities to focus on before the silly season takes all of our resolve, and end your year on a financial high note.
Limits
You’re not going to be able to set yourself up financially if your Christmas period is a financial nightmare. Set limits- on who you’ll be giving presents to and how much you will be spending. Invest the time, not money, in your gift giving. Have a picnic to celebrate the end of the year with your friends, and bow out of expensive Christmas parties. Choose to celebrate the festive season in a low-key style, you might even find you have a taste for it.
One Last Stab
There is no way of avoiding all the financial strain that comes to gift giving, but why not dial it down a notch and take one last stab at paying down a little extra debt before the year ends? Use the last six weeks by committing to paying off that little bit extra every week, and starting the new year just that little bit extra ahead. It may feel very tough now, but it will make your resolutions come 2012 much easier to achieve.
Superannuation
Every worker’s head is already halfway out the door this time of year, so it’s not the time to be asking for a raise. It is, however, the time to be working out exactly what you’ll be asking for when every one gets back to their desks fresh come 2012. If you feel like it’s time for a raise, now is the time to consider how you would like to achieve that. One idea is to ask for a raise, and for the extra money to be invested in super. You’ll be able to stick to your current budget, but know that you’ve provided some extra for your retirement.
Garage Sale
Someone was telling me of Facebook pages where people can advertise their goods online and people in the local area who have signed up will be notified. Now is a great time to cleanse the home- you’ll have a whole batch of new presents coming your way come December 25, so clear some space. Set up an eBay account, throw a garage sale of donate it to Vinnies- people will be looking for treasures as gifts, so now could be a great time to pass on some of your goods and declutter your home.
Saving Goals
Christmas is an expensive time of year, but perhaps we spend extra money because we’ve written it off as such. Once you’ve told yourself you’ll never save any money, your more likely to spend unconsciously. It would be an interesting experiment to instead set a saving goal for the next six weeks. It’s a challenge, and even if you miss it, you’ll have been more conscious of your spending habits. If you succeed, you’ll start 2012 with a nice bit of savings at your back.
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