December is one of the busiest months of the year. Potential consumers are constantly stimulated through radio, television, the internet, billboards, randomly handed out flyers on the street, paper sale signs, and a myriad of creative alternatives. The purchases are made, and everyone is happy. But what happens in the short and medium-term? Credit cards have been used to the max, the loan installment that is owed comes to light, and suddenly there is no twelfth or thirteenth salary, only zero. January arrives in the middle of the famine. Do you feel identified or know someone who is repeating this story or is about to do it?
If so, we have some tips to help you find that balance when shopping, between what is truly necessary and what can be left for later.
-Analyze your shopping patterns from the past year.
Why did you go out of budget? What could you have left for later and didn’t? Perhaps, you gave in to the pressure to buy on Christmas Eve and flash sales? To avoid this, write down in a notebook the pendings for December (payments to be made, gifts and other purchases, and the money you have); and the expenses it makes, even if they are minimal. That way, you won’t have the debt aftermath and stress.
– Gift exchange.
The Secret Santa within the family is a nice way of not buying something for a few or many members. The exchange becomes a fun alternative for everyone to feel good without spending excessively.If you’ve already chosen your shopping day, go with the necessary cash. Leave credit cards at home to avoid unnecessary temptations. If you use a card, carry the one you keep with you at all times and challenge yourself not to overspend.
– Don’t get out of the budget.
Love at first sight is still under discussion, so do not fall easily in love with that beautiful thing you saw in the shop window. Keep this in mind,, it is necessary to look for information about the products that interest you. That way, you will choose the most suitable and least expensive option.
– Dress well.
Do you remember that blouse that you never wore, those pants that you never wore, or that dress that has lost its color a bit but is still intact? Use them! The closet should not be a space for ornaments but for pieces that you really need. Take some time to check what you wear and what you don’t, and have a chance to reuse it. What is bulky, donate it, and if you want to wear that dress (but you’ve seen it before), dye it with your favorite color. The good verse is more about being creative than using innumerable resources.
So with these tips, you can fill your household with joy on Christmas instead of debts and unnecessary spendings!