(I do participate in affiliations on this blog. I am an affiliate with many companies, which in simple terms means I advertise for companies, and they compensate me via products, services, or monetary means. You can read my entire disclosure policy over here.)
Planning a Debt-Free Christmas Starts Now
It doesn’t take a genius to realize that Americans are swimming in debt.
I have read that the average American pays for Christmas each year with credit cards. These families are still paying off their holiday debt the following year!
I, for one, have chosen not to participate in the debt game.
Are you tired of mounting up consumer debt?
How would you like to avoid going into debt during this holiday season?
Do you want a debt-free Christmas 2022?
That’s my plan!
Step #1 – Have a Plan
The first step to having a debt-free Christmas is to simply have a plan.
"If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." -Benjamin Franklin
It might sound a little too simple, but it is true.
Having a plan is the first step to having a debt-free Christmas.
October is the perfect time to start making these holiday plans.
I like to start out by grabbing either a red or green notebook.
Of course, it has to be one of the $0.25 ones I picked up from Walmart during the back-to-school sales.
It doesn’t have to be a big, fancy holiday planner.
A spiral binder will work fine.
This is your time to dream. Write down everything that you would like to have included in your ultimate dream Christmas.
Don’t panic. I realize you are not going to be able to do everything included on your dream Christmas list, but this is the time to write it all down.
Once you have it written down, then you will be able to refer to this list over the years.
Remember, Christmas is never over; it’s always coming!
This list gives you the opportunity to work a little bit towards your dream Christmas every year.
It also gives you a chance to see it written down in black and white. This makes it easier to decide whether or not it is realistic.
Having a written plan, continually re-evaluating your plan, and working on your plan throughout the year will take the, Oh, my goodness! It’s almost Christmas panic out of your life.
It will also keep you from going into debt.
Remember, your ultimate goal is to have a debt-free Christmas 2022.
Step #2 – Ask Yourself Questions
Step two is to ask yourself questions.
"Always ask yourself if what you are doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow." - Paulo Coelho
Write out your holiday goals.
What do you want to do this Christmas?
What would you like future Christmases to look like?
How would you like to decorate?
Will you be decorating inside your home?
Do you want outside decorations too?
Are you getting a real Christmas tree?
Do you need to buy an artificial tree?
Will you be sending Christmas cards this year?
Will you need extra money for postage stamps?
Are you shipping any packages?
What about family portraits?
Do you need to buy any holiday clothing?
What about an ugly sweater for the Ugly Sweater Contest?
Will you be serving any meals throughout the holiday season?
Do you or does anyone in your family need holiday attire? What are your family’s clothing and shoe sizes?
Which charities do you plan on giving to this year?
Who will you be giving gifts to this year, and which gifts are on your list?
Are the people closest to you hoping to get something specific for Christmas?
Do you have certain things you always give at Christmas time?
What are your holiday traditions?
And, of course, probably most importantly for making sure you have a debt-free Christmas, decide on a holiday budget.
I like to include Thanksgiving in these plans. I also include any family birthdays, Christmas Eve traditions, and New Year’s Eve plans that we may have this year.
I write down meal plans, including things I plan on taking to family gatherings.
I also write down my plan for wrapping all of the gifts.
I just feel better having all of my holiday season plans put together into one notebook that is easily accessible.
Step #3 – Evaluate Your Holiday Goals
That was the fun part. Now is the time to examine your list and be realistic.
"If your plan doesn't work, change the plan, not the goal." - Anonymous
The holidays are coming faster than you may think!
Which things do you want to include in this year’s Christmas and which things would you like to include eventually?
Which things can be taken off the list entirely?
Maybe it’s time to simplify your Christmas gift-giving list.
Take a serious look at all of the names on this list.
Maybe the mailman can be given some homemade cookies instead of a $20 gift card this year.
Perhaps Uncle Charlie can be taken off the list.
Maybe gift-giving outside of your immediate family needs to stop entirely.
This will enable you to focus on the things that truly matter.
You want to establish your goals, then work towards reaching those goals.
But, always remember, if your plans aren’t working out, it’s okay.
You made your plans, so you can change them too.
#4 – Learn How to Make Extra Money for Christmas
I have an entire blog post with a dozen different ways you can make extra cash during this holiday season.
Having a few ways to earn extra money specifically for the holiday season is a great way to stay out of debt this Christmas.
Check out my article, How to Make Extra Money for Christmas, and let me know how you make extra money during the holiday.
#5 – Become a Strategic Shopper
The holidays are the perfect time to become a Strategic Shopper.
Shop the sales and deals. There are plenty of them this time of year.
Don’t cross off thrift store shopping. I have found a lot of great items, including brand-new, still in the original packaging items!
Start using coupons. Check out my article, Where Do I Find Coupons to Save Money Now to get started.
Earn money back through digital rebate apps, like Fetch Rewards.
Fetch Rewards is by far my favorite digital rebate app!
They make it super easy to earn cashback! There are no hoops to jump through!
Please consider using my referral links when you sign up. It won’t change your account at all, but it will give me a small reward for sending you their way.
My referral code is: R1UMC
How to Have a Debt-Free Christmas 2022
That’s it!
Create your plan, ask yourself many questions, then re-evaluate your goals are the first steps toward having a debt-free Christmas 2022.
Make some extra holiday cash, then stretch that money through Strategic Shopping.
Don’t wait! Get started today on your holiday notebook.
I am planning on simplifying Christmas 2022 more than ever before, especially when it comes to giving gifts to my 12 children and more than 20 grandchildren!
Are you ready to get planning your debt-free Christmas 2022?
After all, who doesn’t want a debt-free holiday season?
Christmas Holiday Planner
I am an affiliate
I hope you love the products I recommend! Just so you know, I may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Thank you if you use our links, I really appreciate it!
