Monthly Archives: December 2024

Tis the Season to Make the Effort to Be Kind and Generous

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With Christmas right around the corner–in a week to be exact, it is important to preach both kindness and generosity. While of course I believe it is important to be kind and generous on a daily basis–I do believe that this is the time of year especially to step up your efforts up a notch. That might mean tipping higher the next time you are at a restaurant or to someone who provides a service for you. That might mean making a donation to an organization or to donate items to the less fortunate. Whether you are impacted or not by a heavily inflated economy or the financial stresses that the holidays could bring, remember that there are always people who are in need and that are in less fortunate situations than you are. Many people often only think about themselves or their families but it is important to step outside of yourself and to think about those who could be positively impacted with even a small gesture of kindness and generosity.

If you are not in a good financial situation yourself and you truly cannot afford to be generous at the moment, then if you can find a way to be kind to someone, that could still add a lot of spiritual value to someone’s life. There are many people who suffer from low self esteem and don’t feel good about themselves. Simply giving a compliment to someone who isn’t used to receiving one could really brighten someone’s day. Don’t underestimate how little actions can actually make a difference in this world! 🙂

One of the Best Financial Habits You Can Make During the Month of December

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As we are filling up our carts with an abundance of gifts for your loved ones along with some presents for yourself, it is very easy for your December spending to go above and beyond your daily spending. Remember that it is only once a year and it is also good to remind yourself to still find ways to enjoy this festive season of generosity and to not feel stressed over the extra money that is spent. The money you spend will ALWAYS find a way to come back if you develop a good relationship with your money and you continue to develop an abundance mindset. These are habits that you can focus on year round and goals that you should make a conscious effort each and every day.

In the month of December, we are closing out another year and this is a good time to actually REFLECT on your money for the past year. Did you increase your net worth? Are there areas of your life that you overspent? How well did you manage your money in the past year? The ultimate way you can answer these questions is if you go through your credit card statements or if you take it a step further and keep a journal with all your expenses, this would be a good place for you to look at where exactly you spent your money and how much. While this for some might sound tedious and increase your stress levels, try to look at this as a way to set yourself up for a brighter future ahead. With the new year coming, it is good to look back and assess your current money habits so that you can create even better ones for the following year. If you don’t currently have a money reflection at the end of the year, it is never too late to start and let this December kick off this new financial habit before we ring in the new year!

Money Saving Tips After Overspending on Black Friday

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I don’t know about you but I definitely spent a lot more money this year from all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals this past week. Not only did I spend a lot of money over that weekend but even the weeks leading up to Black Friday–there were a ton of online sales that began before actual Black Friday! Nowadays, the sales are not limited to just Black Friday or Cyber Monday but the sales can go on for days or even weeks. Personally, I did all my Black Friday shopping online. I haven’t shopped in-person on Black Friday for many years now. Mainly due to the fact that I don’t like to deal with large crowds but I also believe that many of the deals are better online anyhow. As I go through my credit card statement, my first reaction is okay, it’s only the beginning of December and it is time to scale it back now! At the same time, we are moving onto the abundant holiday season where it is inevitable that more money is to be spent on gifts for the people I care about most along with other holiday expenses. So what is my advice on how to save some money this holiday season?

Go Through Your Previous Purchases and Return What Is Unnecessary – It is so easy to get cart happy and add lots of items simply due to how low the prices are. However, realistically, many of the items are impulse buys and not necessarily things that you need. Many retailers have a great return policy at this time where you have as much time as after the holidays to bring back any returns. Don’t be afraid to return any items that you actually don’t need at the moment.

Make a List and a Budget (and Actually Stick to It) – It is always a good plan to plan ahead when you are spending money over the holiday season. Start off with a list of people who you want to shop for along with a tentative budget that you are working with. This way, you are making a conscious effort on establishing not only who you want to spend your money on but also how much you are looking to spend. Also keep in mind when it comes to gift giving, sometimes handmade or inexpensive gifts with a lot of thought are just as valuable as monetary gifts so there is no need to feel obligated to spend a lot of money in order to please all the people on your gift giving list.

Pick Up a Holiday Side Hustle – The holiday season is a great time to find an extra source of income and to find a part-time job to work some extra holiday hours. Many retailers could always use the extra holiday help and if you find a job as a waiter or waitress, you will most likely make higher tips as people tend to be more generous during the holidays. This might also be also a good time to pick up a holiday craft and find craft fairs to sell your goods. If you have the extra time, it does not hurt to find extra work to keep up with all the costs that naturally come this time of year.