Budgeting now saves post-holiday stress

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chawntain Young
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
It is that time of year again. The season everyone loves when it starts and hates when it ends. It is the holiday shopping season.

Tired of struggling after the holidays leave nothing but a bunch of costly credit card bills and an empty wallet?

A little pre-holiday budgeting and planning can help make holiday shopping what it should be: fun and carefree.

"Being an airman, I don't get paid a lot, so it's important I sit down before the holidays and outline a plan before I hit the mall," said Airman Tiara Glover of the 14th Medical Operations Squadron.

Never budgeted before and think it is too late in the game to start now?

Here are some helpful tips that will make life less stressful and leave you with a little extra cash.

-- Create a holiday budget or spending plan and set limits on the amount of money you plan to spend.

-- Make lists of gifts, decorations and food items you need to buy.

-- Plan time to shop. Running around on lunch hours, evenings after work or shopping with young children can be exhausting and not very productive. Arrange a day or a half-day to do your shopping. Consider trading babysitting time with a friend.

-- Shop efficiently. Read newspapers and sale fliers for specials. Do some comparison-shopping. Shop early in the day and week -- Monday through Wednesday -- as the malls tend to be less crowded.

-- Take a pre-determined amount of money to prevent overspending.

-- If you're using a credit card, paper clip an index card with a pre-determined amount written on it. Write down each purchase or keep receipts to track spending. Try to use just one card, preferably the one with the lowest interest rate.

-- Save the emergency fund for an actual emergency. Who knows when you might be stuck with a broken radiator or four flat tires. What if your favorite Aunt Myrtle passed away? Wouldn't it be a shame if you spent your emergency fund on that fuchsia cashmere pantsuit Aunt Myrtle wanted for Christmas and couldn't afford a plane ticket to see her off?

So, don't get caught in the trap of thinking it is what you buy that matters.

Remember, the holidays are a time for spending time -- not money -- with loved ones. No amount of money spent could ever compare to those precious little moments together. (Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service)