How to manage your money and time this Christmas

Are you looking for ways to manage your time and resources this Christmas?

Perhaps, you have been trying to figure out how to focus on the relevant things, while also having fun this holiday.

If so, then you’re in the right place.

As you can imagine, the holiday season is upon us, and with the pandemic still ongoing, Christmas this year will likely look different from previous years. And you need to find ways to make the most of it.

I believe the most important tip, to navigate this season, is to be willing to adapt and adjust to the expected changes.

Don’t let canceled events or increased restrictions steal your joy, but rather make alternative plans and find reasons to thank God for this season.

For many of us, this Christmas will mean trying to juggle different tasks with varying degrees of success. From work to hosting or attending events.

Well, before we get overwhelmed by all of these, I thought it would be great to share a few tips to help you through this holiday season.

 

Five tips to help you thrive this holiday season

I’m so glad that I get to share these simple yet practical tips to help you make the most of the holiday season and other busy seasons.

I plan to implement these tips and I hope you do too.

1. Plan

I believe this is a game-changer if we are looking to thrive this Christmas.

Planning is one way to ensure we have noted the things that need to be done. It’s also an opportunity to prioritize our tasks.

For instance, there are certain things that need to be done two weeks before Christmas and there are those to be done just a few days before. Planning and prioritizing will help us schedule the right things at the right times.

But the move to plan is not just about writing down what you want to do, you also need to include a deadline for each task.

You should also be flexible in case things fall through, which is likely to happen with many governments constantly changing their regulations due to the ongoing pandemic.

Let’s say you needed to put up your Christmas decorations or go grocery shopping. These are things you will likely have to do way before Christmas Day to avoid any last-minute delays.

The same goes for work. I know as I get closer to the Christmas holidays, I won’t be able to do as much work, principally because I will be busy spending time with my family and friends. This means I have to do most of my work now.

2. Make time for God

I will be the first to confess that this is one of the things I am quick to shirk when the busy moments come. But it’s actually ironic that the very thing we should be doing, the ‘reason for the season is one relationship that seems to suffer during the Christmas holiday.

We often hear that Christmas is about giving and spending time with loved ones but what greater love or significance than spending it with our most High God?

I plan to do better with my time this Christmas and to make sure I give God the best part of my day.

How about you? Are you ready to change that?

I pray so.

Here’s a little challenge: for every day, for the rest of this season, spend some quality time with God. Be intentional and make it meaningful. This will be through prayers, meditating on his word, or reading Christian books/devotionals.

3. Give with intention

Most of us know and probably agree that giving is the central theme of the Christmas holiday. It is a reminder of God’s ultimate gift to us and the need to spread joy and cheer around.

However, today’s reality is somewhat different. As we get closer to the holidays, there will be more representations and expectations of gifts, and other excuses we use to buy new and shiny objects.

But giving means so much more than that. It’s also about our hearts and our intentions. Let us choose to give in a meaningful way not out of compulsion or expectations but because it is what we do.

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7

More so, let our giving not be confined to things but include giving of our time and resources, including giving to meaningful projects and causes. Is there a charity or social cause you’re interested in? Then this would be a good time to find out how you can help. Perhaps they need help planning a Christmas party for disadvantaged kids or they need groceries.

You can be a real expression of God’s love in their lives.

4. Save and spend wisely

One of my favorite quotes on saving is from Warren Buffet.

“Do not save what is left after spending but spend what is left after saving.”

I believe this is what each of us should be doing this Christmas; is saving some money.

Here’s the truth, it’s easy to get carried away with the fanfare and activities that are attendant during festive seasons but the obvious downside is that it may mean spending way more than we had like leaving us with a depleted account, and a sad countenance.

Dear friend, that’s not the plan for this holiday and hopefully, you can implement these tips for your other holidays.

Practical steps to save more and spend less:

• The first step is to determine how much money you have or will have during this period.
• Next, draw up an estimate of your expenses. If you’re anything like me then you will have the essentials (food) and the non-essentials(events).
• Based on your expense list and income, decide on how much you can comfortably save. Then add 10% to that?. I say this because many times, we are conservative with how much we can save. Save more now and you will thank me later.
• For the non-essentials, you have to find creative ways to spend less. This may mean looking out for free events, entertaining at home rather than going out. Giving handmade gifts or no gifts.

5. Shop in your closet

Here’s the thing, our appearance says a lot about us, whether it’s accurate or not. More than that, it also places undue pressure on us if we are not careful.
I decided to consider this on its own rather than under the spend wisely tip, as I believe it is such a big deal for us as women.

One of the things that add to my stress during the holidays is trying to find something appropriate to wear. All of a sudden, it seems like I have no clothes even though my closet tells a different story.
I’m befuddled by the expected transformation when I attend certain events where we have to go the whole nine yards — hair, clothes, makeup, shoes, and jewelry.

So, ladies, this season we will be shopping in our closets. I bet you there will be a lot of appropriate things to wear even if they are not as fashionable or current as the rest.

Bonus tip: Say ‘No’

You don’t have to say yes to every invitation. I know! The horror…

“How can I possibly say no to Susie, Anna, Nicole, and Seyi?”

You can and you should say no. Not to everything but to the ones you know you shouldn’t be attending.

Most of us know those events that stress us out and may mean a new outfit, accessories, etc. Here’s another thing, we are Christians, which means not every environment or event will be appropriate. There are just certain places we have no business in.

If your spirit or conscience is unsettled then you should probably listen to it.

” All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.”
1 Corinthians 10:23

Before you accept the next invitation, please count the cost, literally and figuratively. We should find out what attending or honoring the invite will mean for us.

 

So, there you have it! Six tips to help you stay grounded this holiday season.

Do you have any more tips? Please share

I pray you truly enjoy this season and many more to come. That you never forget or lose sight of the significance of the holiday and at the end of the day, you do it all to the glory of God.

You are dearly loved, hope you never forget that❤️