The holiday season is officially here, and with it, the stream of party invites, gift exchanges, and family gatherings. Fun? Absolutely! But let’s be real: all these celebrations can take a huge toll on our wallets if we’re not careful. Today I’m sharing my three favorite tips to help embrace those holiday invites without overspending. Sound like something you want? Well then, let’s get started.
Links for This Episode
- Check out these DIY Resources and Templates
- Download your FREE Family Budget Worksheet
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Podcast Episode Recommendations
- #34: 7 Simple Ways to Save Money This Holiday Season
- #32: How to Have Stress-Free Money Conversations with Family
- #31: So You Can’t Afford Christmas This Year, Now What?
- #30: How to Create and Stick to a Holiday Budget
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How to Embrace Holiday Invites without Overspending
Well hey there and welcome back to the Financial Fix Up Podcast. I’m your host, Sarah Brumley, and today we’re diving into the holiday social scene – specifically, how to manage all those holiday invites without blowing your budget. And whether you get one or twenty invitations to events this season, we all know that gatherings, gift exchanges and parties can be fun and festive, but can also get really expensive if we’re not careful. So today I want to talk abut how to embrace those holiday invitations without overspending and to do so, I have three tips that I personally use and I hope they’ll be helpful for you.
Before we jump into that, you know that I’m going to start by reminding you that none of this applies if you haven’t clarified your holiday budget. If that’s you, it’s not too late and I’m offering my FREE Holiday Budget Worksheet to get you on the right track. You can find that at lemonblessings.com/holiday or by clicking the link in the show notes.
Okay, so without further ado, let’s just jump right in.
Step #1: Set a Holiday Social Budget
My first tip is to set a holiday social budget. And you might be like, okay Sarah, I already created a holiday budget and now you want me to create another one for social stuff? Why yes, yes I do. But if you’ve completed your holiday budget to begin with, this shouldn’t be hard. In fact, you may have already done this step. But if not, this part of your holiday budget should include anything related to social events, like:
- Host and hostess gifts
- Food and drinks you might bring to potlucks or parties
- The cost of transportation if you’re traveling to see friends and family
…and any other related costs you can think of. Try to include as many as possible upfront and you won’t be caught off guard down the line.
Once you’ve set this budget, you’ll then divide it up based on the events you plan to attend. If an unexpected invite pops up, you can decide whether it fits within any extra amount you might have in your budget. Remember, you don’t need to attend every event, and it’s perfectly okay to politely decline if it doesn’t align with your finances.
Now a little side note here: the holidays can get expensive. If you’ve already exhausted your allotted holiday budget on gifts, food, decor and other general holiday expenses, keep in mind that just because you have to say no this year, doesn’t mean you’ll have to say no forever. In fact, if you can identify the expenses you would have needed to do all the things this holiday season, you’ll be better prepared come next year. More to come on that topic, I promise, so stay tuned.
So tip 1, set a holiday social budget.
Step #2: Prioritize Events
Tip number 2 is to prioritize your holiday events. Not every gathering is going to have the same importance or value to you and your family, so take a moment to decide which ones are truly meaningful. Maybe that’s a family dinner, a close friend’s party, or an event where you’ll have the chance to network.
Once you’ve chosen your “must-attends”, you’ll have a clear picture of where you can focus your resources. Then, with your remaining budget, you can consider attending some lower-priority events or just opting out altogether. By prioritizing, you’ll make sure your money and time go toward the events that matter most to you, and you won’t feel pressured to overextend yourself.
And speaking of overextending yourself, make sure you check the calendar before you commit. Between kids Christmas programs, tree decoration, and all of that holiday baking, the last thing you want to do is over commit your time and end the season exhausted or burned out.
Okay, so that’s tip 2, prioritize events.
Step #3: Get Creative with Gifts and Contributions
Tip 3 is to get creative with gifts and contributions. Holiday gatherings often come with expectations for gift exchanges, or at the very least, bringing something to share, but you don[t have to spend a lot to make a meaningful contribution.
When it comes to hostess gifts, you might consider something homemade like baked goods, one of those hot cocoa mixes in a mason jar, or even a holiday-scented candle you can pick up on sale if that’s something you know she’d like. You might also be a crafty type person and have small quilted mug rugs, knitted projects, or even jewelry that you could could gift without having to spend additional money but being able to use the things from your stash. Remember, it’s more the thought that counts.
If you’re going to a potluck, volunteer to bring something that’s budget friendly. It can be festive, sure, but if you have all of the ingredients to make your favorite pasta salad in your cupboard, then don’t feel like you have to recreate the wheel. Put it in a festive dish if you have one and don’t apologize for bringing something you can afford. Remember, gatherings are supposed to be about making connections with people, not about breaking the bank.
For gift exchanges, once again you can think about simple but personal DIY options. I love to give homemade sugar scrubs and lotions, because those are things I love to make, but if hand-decorated mugs or holiday cookies are your thing, then go with what you know! Handcrafted items can go a long way in spreading cheer without requiring you to spend a lot.
I do want to mention that it’s important that you read the invitation and get clarity on what you’re responsible for. If the hostess has requested no gifts, take her at her word and don’t show up with one. Not only will you save yourself a little money, but she will be happy she doesn’t have another item to contend with during the already chaotic season. If the invitation says that food will be provided, then take it at it’s word. Of course, you can ask the host or hostess if they’d like you to bring something, but more often than not, they would prefer you don’t. So, once again, take them at their word and save a little money at the same time.
Your Turn: Embrace Holiday Invites without Overspending
So, there you have it! My top three tips to help you embrace those holiday invites without overspending.
- Set a holiday social budget
- Prioritize events
- Get creative with gifts and contributions
…and while I touched on it, I want to say once again that it’s essential to know when to say no. It’s easy to feel pressured into attending every event or gift exchange, but remember – yuo don’t have to say yes to everything. If you’re feeling financially stressed, it’s okay to turn down an invite or suggest an alternate get together after the holidays. People will understand and setting boundaries with your time and your budget will allow you to enjoy the season without financial stress.
And if you still need to implement that Holiday Budget – it’s not too late! Make sure to grab your free copy of my Holiday Budget Worksheet. You can find it at lemonblessings.com/holiday.
Whatever you decide, just know that I’m cheering you on! You’ve got this! Have an amazing day and I’ll chat with you again next time!
