SAVING DURING THE HOLIDAYS!!! CHRISTMAS GIFTS,BLACK FRIDAY,PARTIES

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HAPPY TUESDAY READERS!
Christmas is right around the corner! Instead of taking your time and relaxing right now, you all need to get up and get started on Christmas shopping, prep and planning before it gets crazy! I spent this weekend with some friends and they made me realize that the holiday stresses have already begun. I encourage you all to get started on your gift ideas, prepare your dinner menu and start shopping before the madness begins. You don't want to be caught up now and stressed a week before Christmas.

Here are some tips to get started and hopefully avoid all the stresses of the holiday season.

1) SHOP NOW- BLACK FRIDAY 
The key to shopping for gifts is to do it ahead of time. If you haven't already purchased your Christmas gifts get started today. Take advantage of holiday sales and shop before the malls get crazy. This Friday is BLACK FRIDAY and CYBER MONDAY is the following week. Take some time tonight to make a list and head to your local mall after work this week. It's beneficial to take advantage of all the possible sales during the holidays! Get your savings in and prevent stressing last minute on gifts! 

2) DIY DIY DIY
DO IT YOURSELF. During the holidays we get caught up in buying expensive decorations and gifts. Instead of buying all your decorations, save some money by buying cheaper items and create your decorations at home. This is a creative way to save money on decorations that you only use once a year. If you have children this can be a convenient and easy way to get them involved in Christmas activities. Also, for those with significant others DIY gifts can be a way to save hundreds of dollars and will be super thoughtful and sentimental for your partner.

3) HOSTING- DINNER MENU 
FOOD. For me the best part about the holidays is enjoying Christmas dinner with my family. I'm excited for the mac and cheese, lasagna, jollof rice and fried chicken. Having a great dinner menu is key to making your guests happy and satisfied. I encourage all of you to plan your menu's now, look to start buying the non-perishable foods before the grocery stores get busy (ex.canned gravy and pasta). People get so distracted with how crazy shopping malls get during the holidays and forget that the line ups in Freshco and Fortinos the night before Christmas are also a scary sight!

4) GIFT CAPPING- HOLIDAY BUDGET
I started gift capping the last few years to help me save money. I start with creating a holiday budget which includes who I am purchasing gifts for and how much I will spend on each person. For example, if you and your siblings are purchasing gifts for each other. Come up with an appropriate price range for both parties. If $100 is the most you can spend, make sure it's mutual so both people get to save money and aren't let down with the value of the gift they may receive.

5)  GIVE BACK- CHARITY
A lot of people get blinded by Black Friday, boxing day, Christmas day and forget about the ultimate goal of the holidays which should be to give back to the less fortunate. Last year, I donated to The Heart and Stroke foundation. This year, I donated some clothing to Toronto Homeless Youth Initiatives and will only be getting a gift for my God daughter who is four. To manage your spending donate instead of spending money on gifts that don't make a real impact. That Gucci bag will be in style for two seasons, but that jacket you donate might be with a homeless person for the next 10 years, until they find housing or forever! Think about where and how you spend your money during the holidays and instead of exchanging multiple gifts try to do some work in the community and give back. This will make an impact and save you money. It doesn't have to be hundreds of dollars. $63 at my organization will feed a young adult for a month vs. that $500 designer bag that you bring out once a year.

Make an impact and save this holiday season!

HOW TO HELP:

 Eva's Initiatives for Homeless Youth (Various Donation and Volunteer opportunities on website) 

Holiday Helpers (Adopt a Family)