I remember years ago, while in high school, I was visiting a teacher’s office during her lunch hour following the Christmas break. She was eating a cup of ramon and looked at me apologetically. She said, “We had a GREAT Christmas this year; now we’re just poor until February.” She laughed about it and made jokes about her teeny and sometimes non-existent lunches off and on through out the month. I remember thinking even as a 16-year-old, “why is that funny? That would stink!” The truth is, I could see the stress on her face!
Her “joy filled” Christmas celebration left her with a ball and chain of debt and stress!
Now as an adult, I realize that Christmas doesn’t have to be that way! In fact, the season is MUCH MORE joyful when you aren’t weighed down by over spending and debt! Making and sticking to a budget is so important in order to avoid the “Ghost of Christmas Debt!”
Our first Christmas together, Nate and I overspent and then went and financed a car! (Stupid!) By God’s grace, we’ve paid off that car loan and are now celebrating Christmas in a simpler way and enjoying ourselves so much more!
I loved Lynnae’s take on the cash only Christmas at BeingFrugal.net. Check out what she wrote HERE!
I am sticking to a cash only Christmas plan and working hard to keep our total Christmas expenses, including travel, under $300. I am feeling great about our progress so far!
Can you go this season plastic free?
“Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” Prov. 17:1
