| Christmas is a very emotional time of year for | | | | Christmas feasts, holiday activities etc. |
| most people. It is the big crescendo at the end of | | | | 2. Teach Your Children |
| the year that people can spend months planning | | | | - Only buy your children a couple of gifts - don't |
| for. It is a time of year when people feel like | | | | shower them with loads of presents especially if |
| giving to others and caring about others. | | | | you have lots of family and friends who also buy |
| Everyone experiences different feelings and | | | | things for them |
| emotions during this time and these can include | | | | - Ask your children to choose 2 or 3 gifts that |
| feeling stressed, happy, excited, sad, joyful, lonely, | | | | they want, advising them that if the gift is too |
| depressed, elated, worried etc. | | | | expensive they probably won't get it |
| We all know is that modern day marketing is built | | | | - Don't be pressured into feeling that you are a |
| around pulling on people's heart strings and playing | | | | bad parent if you don't buy your children the |
| with their emotions. During Christmas we see a | | | | latest gadget or toy that has been advertised to |
| lot of this, especially with t.v., radio and print | | | | death over the weeks leading up to Christmas |
| advertising. For example we have all heard lines | | | | - Buy your children what you can afford and |
| such as: | | | | remember time spent with them is worth a million |
| "Show mum you love her by buying her . . . this | | | | dollars to them |
| Christmas" | | | | - Help your children to write a present list |
| "Give your children their best Christmas yet by | | | | themselves - who do they want to give a gift to |
| buying them . . . " | | | | - Teach children how to budget and ensure they |
| "The one you love deserves to be spoilt this year. | | | | have the money to buy what they want to give |
| Buy her a . . . " | | | | - Spend time with your children and encourage / |
| "Forget the socks and jocks, what he really | | | | help them to make gifts and cards for their |
| wants from Santa is a . . . " | | | | friends / family |
| "Don't let YOUR children miss out! You must buy | | | | 3. Spend time with your family instead of |
| them . . . this year" | | | | spending money |
| Have you ever noticed the gifts that they | | | | - Take a walk / drive to see the Christmas lights |
| suggest you buy cost hundreds of dollars and | | | | in your neighbourhood |
| sometimes even thousands of dollars? It is natural | | | | - Have a sing a long and sing Christmas carols |
| to feel guilty if you are contemplating spending | | | | - Play board games or do jig saw puzzles |
| say $30 or $50 on that person, when you see | | | | together |
| advertising telling you that if you truly love | | | | - Go to a Carols by candlelight |
| someone you will spend hundreds of dollars on | | | | - Read Christmas stories as a family |
| them. The marketing guru's have weaved their | | | | - Watch Christmas DVD's |
| magic, and before you know it you have lifted | | | | - Participate in free activities put on around your |
| your spending and are buying a more expensive | | | | neighbourhood - church pageant, Christmas carols, |
| present just so you don't feel guilty! | | | | lighting of the Christmas tree, Christmas parades |
| You may also experience other emotions that | | | | etc |
| give you a drive to go out and spend lots of | | | | 4. Start some family traditions |
| money during this time of year. These may | | | | - Decorating the house and tree with home made |
| include feeling guilty that you haven't spent | | | | decorations / ornaments |
| enough time with someone during the year, | | | | - Hanging some Christmas lights |
| feeling sad that a close family member is no | | | | - Making Christmas presents for friends and |
| longer around at this time of year, feeling | | | | family |
| depressed about life and in need of retail therapy. | | | | - Making Christmas cards |
| What you need to do is to learn to control your | | | | - Making Christmas treats - mince pies, |
| emotions as best as you can by understanding | | | | shortbread, cookies, cakes, chocolates |
| your emotions and why you feel a particular way | | | | - Hanging an advent calendar |
| and then focusing on something else that you | | | | - Going to a service at your local church / place |
| enjoy doing to lift you up and make you feel in | | | | of worship |
| control. You also need to ignore all of the | | | | 5. Give to others less fortunate |
| propaganda, advertising and hype that makes | | | | - Buy a present and put under a charity tree |
| Christmas a commercial enterprise. Focus on the | | | | - Give some time to help out a local charity |
| true meaning of Christmas instead and make it a | | | | - Help sell Christmas cards / products for your |
| time of year full of traditions, joy, happiness, | | | | local charity |
| caring and sharing. | | | | - Send a card to someone in a nursing home / |
| Here are some clues on how you can do this:- | | | | shelter / lonely neighbour |
| 1. Don't go overboard | | | | - Make a monetary donation to a charity of your |
| - Write a list of who you would like to buy / | | | | choice |
| make presents for | | | | - Visit an elderly lonely neighbour |
| - Put a limit on how much you will spend on each | | | | If you let your Christmas get out of hand all that |
| person | | | | you are going to do is end up feeling very |
| - Write down some ideas of what you can buy | | | | depressed, stressed, worried and concerned when |
| that person. Ignore the advertising that tells you | | | | the big event is over and reality sets in. |
| what you have to buy, and throw away the guilt | | | | There is nothing worse than seeing the damage |
| you feel by not spending ridiculous amounts of | | | | after the event. The credit card bills will flow in |
| money | | | | during the New Year, the bank account |
| - Give gifts that have a special meaning rather | | | | statements will be delivered in the first quarter of |
| than a set dollar value | | | | the year and you are likely to then see the |
| - Ensure you have the money to spend in your | | | | trouble and grief you have caused yourself. |
| savings accounts, else cut down who you buy for | | | | Why spend the next year or two suffering |
| or how much you spend on each person | | | | financial pain because you went over board and |
| - Tune out and turn away from the marketing | | | | got caught up in the hype of Christmas. Make this |
| campaigns and advertising that encourage / | | | | Christmas an enjoyable one and spend your New |
| tempt you to overspend | | | | Year relaxing and working on savings goals |
| - Keep your Christmas nice and simple and within | | | | instead of struggling working out debt reduction |
| your budget. This includes present giving, | | | | strategies. |