Christmas Without the Financial Hangover

By: Clancy Fort

Here we go into another Christmas season. Yippee ...my kids have been diligently telling me for months which what not they absolutely must have. For my oldest son, his list of mind melting video games is quite impressive. If I was to get every game he wants, time would stop and he would be in his own version of heaven. He would be in that game playing, vegetative state for the next year. My 2 ½ year old wants everything. He just figured out who Santa is. And, last and most expensive, the “fashionista” 11 year old.
Then, there's the whole shopping experience. I'm a rather directed shopper. I want to get what I need and get out as quickly as possible. But, this is the season for pampering yourself a little in the Christmas seasonwhich always seems to add a lot of extra money to what was hoped to be a controlled holiday This year with a recession looming, I'm turning over a new leaf and setting some simple rules to follow for getting through the gift part of the Christmas season with my bank account still intact.
Here it is...
1.There is a per person budget of $100 and not a dollar more. This for the immediate family only.
2.The extended family either agrees to a $50.00 max “Secret Santa” or their not getting a gift from us.
3.Cash is king. We are not using credit cards this year. They tend to give the feeling that we have more money than we really have.
4. Mommy and I are not giving gifts that have monetary value. We are giving chore coupons instead.
5.I'm shopping entirely online this year (debit card only!). No distractions. Just getting what I need and done.
By doing these things, I estimate I can save over $2,000 this Christmas and the children won't really know the difference.

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Clancy Fort is a debt counselor and owner of Fort Debt Settlement (www.fortdebtsettlement.com), an affiliate of Debt Zero. He is an expert on debt reduction and cash control. You can contact him through his website at www.fortdebtsettlement.com .

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