The holiday season is fast approaching and, much like the rest of this year, the holidays are going to be different. While you may still gather with family and friends, it’s likely those gatherings will be smaller in nature. And whether the holidays have affected you financially, chances are someone in your family or group of friends has been. Here are a few tips to keep the holidays joyful without extra cash — and to find moments of thankfulness with friends and family.
Scale Down Celebrations
Even if your personal financial situation hasn’t been affected negatively by the pandemic, it doesn’t mean others in your family and friends aren’t struggling financially. Scale down your celebration plans so that everyone feels comfortable.
Start New Traditions
Some people give gifts to family members during Thanksgiving celebrations. This year consider doing a craft together instead. Doing this may start a new tradition of building memories while helping to ease the costs.
Go Potluck
If you’re attending a family event, offer to bring your famous dish. If you’re more famous for not being able to boil water, consider offering to bring disposable plates, cups, napkins, or utensils to help ease the burden on the host.
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving festivities this year, consider asking people to bring a dish. Encourage others to bring dishes you know others love. Perhaps request those who aren’t the most accomplished cooks in your group to bring something simple, like rolls, cranberry sauce, or whipped cream.
DIY Decorations
This year, it might be best to skip fancy decorations for your holiday celebration. Instead, consider looking to Mother Nature to provide decorations for your Thanksgiving table, tackling a DIY project from your existing craft stash, or asking a friend or family member if they have decorations you could borrow for the day.
Invite Guests to Bring Wine
Alcohol is one of the most expensive costs when hosting a party. This year ask everyone to bring their favorite wine for a wine-tasting. Not only does it take the pressure off the host, but it also provides an opportunity for your guests to share their favorites with the group and makes for a fun event.
Shop Wisely
Make a list of all the dishes you plan to make, all the ingredients each dish requires, and then compare prices to get the best possible deals on your Turkey Day dinner. Before you set out to shop, don’t forget the best place to shop – your own pantry. Make sure you don’t already have some of the ingredients on hand so that you can save that money for other holidays coming soon.
Also consider shopping early. Many supermarkets offer great prices on holiday staples weeks ahead of the holiday. Those who shop early often get the best deals.
Coupon, Coupon, Coupon
Once upon a time, you had to rely on the Sunday paper to get coupons. That is no longer the case, with many company websites offering you the opportunity to print them from home. Some stores even offer coupons you can download to your mobile phone or a store loyalty card. Use coupons wisely to save big for your Thanksgiving plans.
Draw Names for Gifts
Many people use Thanksgiving to make plans for who will be where on Christmas. This year, rather than buying gifts for everyone, perhaps it’s a good plan to recommend drawing names instead. Whether your budget has taken a hit in 2020 or not, the odds are good that someone in the group may be struggling and will appreciate the financial relief.
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We’re Here to Help!
We understand that these are trying times for everyone and want to give our members the tools necessary to save for Turkey Day and plan for the holidays ahead.
From our savings accounts with automatic transfers to holiday loans and more, we’re here to help you make the holidays the best for you and your family.
Please stop by our branch or call 800-343-6328 to learn how we can help you.
Each individual’s financial situation is unique and readers are encouraged to contact the Credit Union when seeking financial advice on the products and services discussed. This article is for educational purposes only; the authors assume no legal responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of the contents.