Happier & Healthier Holidays: Reducing Financial Stress & the Jingle Bell Blues

-
  • Are you feeling pressure to buy gifts for others that you cannot afford?
  • Are you still paying for items purchased during last year's holiday season?
  • Are you going into deeper debt to pay for holiday gifts and expenses?
  • Do you feel guilty about not being able to afford to buy gifts for loved ones?
  • Are you feeling anxious or depressed about finances during the holidays?


If you answered "Yes" to any or all of these questions, do not despair. You are not alone.  The holidays are a time when others may and society often places demands on everyone to spend money.  This can be particularly stressful, when you are experiencing financial challenges. 

Also, the commercial emphasis on gift purchasing may conflict with a value system of celebrating and focusing on more spiritual meanings of the holidays. Empower and permit yourself to define and determine reasonable and meaningful ways you will celebrate, without feeling  co-opted or stressed.


Here are some tips to help you feel in control of your finances and enjoy the holidays:


  • Buy only those items you can pay for, immediately or within the next 30 days.
  • Adopt a new attitude!  Some of the best holiday gifts require little or no money.
  • Spend quality time with loved ones and enjoy the gift/present of each other's presence.
  • Attend free or low cost events, such as concerts, social gatherings and worship services.
  • Get creative. Use your talents to make gifts, such as artwork, fine crafts or edible treats.
  • Provide inexpensive token gifts with sentimental value or gag gifts that others would enjoy.
  • Give gifts of service or skills, such as baby or pet-sitting, cleaning, repairing, errands, etc. 

HAPPY   HOLIDAYS!!!

Comments

  1. skincare productsDecember 10, 2011 at 2:44 AM

    Thank you for an insightful and useful post. The web is a better place with you writing!

    Pet sitting Frisco

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Taking Care of Me in 2023: Healthy Self-Love

-
  Elements and the Practice of  Healthy Self-Love As February comes to a close, let's reflect on the major theme, represented by Valentine's Day, that of love . Healthy love is a powerful force.  It provides us with motivation, joy, purpose, and energy.  It is important to remember that healthy love starts with our ability to love ourselves.     Healthy Self-Love Self-Acceptance and Being Authentic Like who you are Focus on and reinforce your strengths and positive qualities Embrace your individuality Self-Compassion Treat yourself well Forgive yourself for past mistakes Accept positive treatment from others Self-Esteem Recognize your value and honor it Honor the priority of your needs Assert your needs and wants Self-Awareness Be in touch with and in control of your emotions Set reasonable and Healthy Boundaries  Practice mindfulness  Positivity Recognize and celebrate your accomplishments Adopt an optimistic mindset Seek to enjoy life Practice gratitude For more about Dr. Dia
Read more

THE BENEFITS OF CAREER CONFIDENCE

-
  Career Confidence is Vital to Career Satisfaction and Success Career Confidence Consists of the Following: Having a strong and positive belief in one's work-related assets (i.e. skills, strengths, abilities, talents that enable achievement) Feeling comfortable demonstrating those assets Seeking and being willing to take on challenges, including learning new skills Feeling good and at ease with celebrating achievements Career Confidence is Important to Career Happiness and Sucess: When you experience a high level of confidence, it functions like a muscle that reinforces your desire and comfort with applying your work-related assets.  This is especially true when you are performing work that you enjoy and is truly a good fit for you. You are also more likely to experience success when you feel the confidence to apply and demonstrate your work-related skills, talents and abilities.   A High and Healthy Level of Self Confidence is Beneficial Because it Enables You To: Represent and p
Read more

Welcome 2023 With Gratitude from 2022

-
  THE BENEFIT OF GRATITUDE  Being Grateful for 2022 Helps Usher in 2023 As 2022 comes to a close, it it helpful to reflect on how we were successful in getting through the year. It is important to note that using a positive lens through which to evaluate what has transpired and where we have landed does not require us to ignore the painful or challenging experiences.  It is healthy to acknowledge problems and negative situations.  However, it is unhealthy to give those events and situations all of the power.  That is what happens when we narrow our lens and focus only or primarily on the pain of hurtful events. A healthy attitude enables us to desire to be whole, feel well and move on. Psychological researchers have found that the practice of gratitude is helpful in switching our perspective from one of problem to solution and building the resilience to overcome the negative impact of hurtful events.  Specifically, the attitude of gratitude is the ability to see the "silver lining
Read more