Save more money for the Holidays

Let’s face it; our economy promotes spending and instant gratification. We want it…and we want it now. The more convenient...the better. But, now that Christmas is right around the corner, many of us may find that our savings accounts are a little tighter than usual.

“I’ll just charge it and pay it off later.”

Even though we all make bad spending choices, it doesn’t mean that our kids must go without Christmas presents, or that we won’t be able to visit our hometowns over the holidays. It simply means, that in order to have the Christmas we want, we must discipline ourselves and save more money now. Don’t stress! You have more time than you think to put aside some extra cash for Christmas.

Here are just a few tips to save some extra cash in the next few weeks.

1.Cut some of the monthly services you are not using as regularly as you thought. Do you have an unlimited calling plan, but realize that you only use 1000 minutes? How about the premium channels you thought you were getting a great deal on…only to realize that you are not home enough to get any of the benefits from them. This could be a quick savings of $50-$100 a month.

2.Cut down on fast food by packing your lunch from home. Reducing three fast food outings per week, can save $20 a week and $80 per month. Reduce your trips to the grocery store to one time a week. Make sure you shop with a list to avoid impulse buying. According to Money magazine, about two-thirds of purchases are unplanned. Cut that in half to save $143 a month (if you spend an average of $100 a week on groceries).

3.Repair last years “kicks” before purchasing new ones. Now, that it’s getting a little cooler, don’t be in such a hurry to go buy the latest boots! By taking your shoes/boots to your local shoe-repair shop, you can save mega bucks (depending on what brand/ styles you would normally buy each season). The repair of worn out heel tips (for women) will cost you about $10. Men could possibly get another year’s wear by replacing the rubber heels and the soles of their dress shoes, says Jim McFarland of Lakeland, Fla., a seasoned cobbler (shoemaker). I’ll let you figure out how much your savings will be…

These are just a few tips that you can start right now…just in time for the holiday season. Get on the phone and make those “unwanted cuts,” make your list before you shop, and wait for the latest kicks!

Happy Holidays from Survivor Outreach Services (SOS)!