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Is there a way to
shop eco-friendly and budget-friendly too? Alicia Betanacort from
Monroe County Extension Service as ideas to help you save money,
feel good about helping the environment, and avoid needless
financial stress this holiday season, here are some practical tools
she has put together to help make this holiday season a joyous time.
First, take a hard
look at what you typically spend on gifts, decorations, clothes,
wrapping paper, cards, special meals, etc. At the same time, look
at the rest of your budget and estimate how much you can afford to
spend without racking up debt. Some financial planners recommend
spending no more than 1.5 percent of your annual income on holiday
expenses. If you haven’t saved that much, look for ways to cut
back, but make sure you do it before the holiday rush starts.
After figuring out
how much you can afford, make a gift list and check it twice.
Record everyone on your list and set an amount you expect to spend
on each person. Keep track of what you actually spend and compare
it against your budgeted amount. If you overspend in one area, you
must reduce cost in another.
Decide what you want
to spend on each item and stick to it. You should know in advance
what you want to buy so you’re not enticed by all the attractive
merchandise on the shelves. Monitor your spending along the way.
Plan ahead. You’ve only got a few weeks to pull everything
together, so make a list of everything you need to do and plot it
out on a calendar. This is supposed to be a joyous time; don’t let
the temptation to overspend ruin your holidays and make you pay for
months afterwards!
Here are some ideas
for budget and earth conscious gifts:
*Give a Priceless
gift: When you make a gift, you give of your time- the most valued
gift of all. Make a “gift of time” certificate for a chore an older
relative cannot easily do, or a trip to the park or a slumber party
for the kids.
*Give non-material
gifts such as tickets to an event, concert, dance lessons, spa
visit, or membership to a museum or gym.
* Make a gift
donation to a charity in a loved one’s name.
*Make edible gifts
such as breads, cookies, dried fruits, or nuts. Package them in
reusable tins, baskets, jars, or decorative bags or boxes.
*Send e-mail holiday
greeting cards. This saves money and the environment. Draw,
design, and print your own cards, gift tags, and mailing labels from
old cards or recycled paper.
*Holiday plants such
as poinsettias, chrysanthemums, and Christmas cactus make wonderful
“green” gifts for any budget. Plants can be enjoyed long after the
holiday season is over.
*Give local products
like locally grown citrus, honey, or work from a local artist.
Most of all enjoy
the holidays and time spent with family and friends.
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