How To Save When You’re Spending This Holiday Season
The holiday season is in full swing and shoppers are busy filling their carts with the perfect gifts for the special people in their lives. If history is any guide, however, many are also spending beyond their means.
During last year’s gift giving season, 34 percent of Americans drove their credit card balances higher and 38 percent dipped into savings, according to a recent MassMutual survey. U.S. consumers, it found, racked up $831 in credit card debt during the holiday and borrowed $622 from their savings.
That’s a costly mistake that you can avoid, financial experts say, by:
Setting a budget
Planning ahead
Paying with cash
Indeed, there’s still time to avoid a “holiday hangover,” the sticker shock many experience when their credit card bills comes due in January, by keeping your spending in check, said Marguerita Cheng, chief executive officer with Blue Ocean Global Wealth in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Digging out of debt is no way to start the New Year, she pointed out.
“I do think folks overspend this time of year,” she said. “Some people are impulsive. Others honestly don’t realize they’re overspending. It’s even happened to me. Not because I neglected to plan or exercise self-control, but because I didn’t take into account the gifts I give for all my kid’s activities, the coaches, the piano and karate teachers, and religious education teachers.”
Cheng is not alone. Shoppers nationwide are planning to spend an average of $942 on gifts for the 2019 holiday season, according to a recent Gallup poll.1 But actual spending can be far greater, depending on one’s income, financial discipline, and expenses. Travel costs, new clothes for year-end social events, and hosting holiday parties doesn’t come cheap.
If you count yourself among the many who regularly overspend this time of year, you’ll need a three-pronged strategy to stay out of debt.
Set a Budget
According to the MassMutual survey, the majority of Americans (71 percent) have a budget set for this holiday season. That’s critical, given that 32 percent anticipate spending more this year than last.
Before you buy another item, do some math to determine how much you can comfortably spend — without going into debt. The goal is to avoid putting any charges on a credit card that you can’t pay off in a matter of months.
Some financial experts suggest never putting anything on a credit card that you can’t pay off in 12 months or less.
Remember, that $1,000 credit card balance in January will take nearly 4 years to pay off and cost you an additional $397 in interest if you make only the minimum monthly payment (roughly $30), assuming an 18 percent interest rate, according to CreditKarma’s credit card interest calculator .
Once you arrive at a realistic budget for holiday spending, never waver, no matter how enticing those layaway deals may be.
Make a List
Perhaps the best way to limit your spending during the holiday season is to plan ahead.
A little time spent brainstorming budget-friendly gift ideas for each person on your list can pare your costs significantly. A premeditated list gives you opportunity to search for sales, but it also mitigates the urge to impulse buy, which is all too common when shoppers wait until the last minute.
Carefully considering your gift choices also allows time for do-it-yourself projects, like giving a framed photo or personalized recipe book that costs much less, but can mean so much more.
As you shop, don’t forget to stay organized and save your receipts. If you change your mind on a gift idea later on, return the first item you purchased for a refund. Don’t just let it linger.
Pay with Cash
Be aware that using credit cards, which are easy to swipe at the checkout counter or online, may contribute to overspending.
Thus, many financial professionals suggest that those who struggle with debt adopt a policy of paying with cash for discretionary expenses. That’s especially good advice for binge borrowers during the holidays, said Cheng.
By avoiding future interest charges, and possible late fees, you also liberate your disposable income to fund other goals, such as increasing your retirement contribution, saving for a down payment on a home, or paying for a bucket-list vacation.
You can also potentially use your savings to build up cash reserves throughout the year so you can pay for next year’s holiday shopping without going into debt.
It’s fun to give gifts during the holiday season, but don’t get in over your head.
By setting limits, planning ahead, and paying with cash, you can put financial worries behind you and focus on what matters most this time of year — spending time with those we love.
Provided by Commonwealth Financial Group, courtesy of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). ©2020 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Springfield, MA 01111-0001 CRN202112-240708