If you’re like many women, the holiday season seems to be nothing more than a mad rush of spending too much time, too much energy and too much money. You start the season in dread and you end it in debt after being bombarded by advertisements and peer pressure to spend more and do more.
At the end of each holiday season, you probably wonder whether there isn’t a better, more joyful way to connect with your friends and family members and to enjoy the simple pleasures of giving. A way that does not leave you feeling depleted and disappointed.
At the Financial Recovery Institute, http://www.financialrecovery.comwe have helped literally thousands of people overcome their holiday overspending habit and I have come to realize that the very best way to create a truly wonderful holiday season -- one that is soulful, balanced and financially sane -- is to understand your holiday history (how you’ve spent your resources during past holiday seasons), get clear about your expectations for the upcoming holiday, and then to develop a balanced, realistic written plan for how you are going to spend your time, energy and money. To make developing that plan as easy as possible for you, I’ve written a free holiday spending e-book that you can download at http://www.financialrecovery.com/products_holiday.html together with a free companion holiday planner spreadsheet. Use the spreadsheet to list all of your holiday expenses, make spending adjustments, and track your spending throughout the holidays.
My MoneyMinder® Holiday Planner guides you through the ten simple steps you should follow to achieve the holiday of your dreams. What better gift can you give to yourself this year! Those steps are:
Step One: Examine Reality. How have you felt about the holidays in recent years?
Step Two: Examine Your History, Part 1. What are your best holiday memories?
Step Three: Examine Your History, Part 2. What are your worst holiday memories?
Step Four: Connect the Dots. How has your holiday history contributed to your current holiday reality?
Step Five: Picture Success. What is your vision of the perfect holiday?
Step Six: Create Your Holiday Spending Plan. What would you like to spend to achieve your vision?
Step Seven: Balance the Books. What adjustments do you need to make the plan succeed?
Step Eight: Plan How to Spend Your Time and Energy. What do you need to do in order to balance your time and your energy?
Step Nine: Track Your Expenses. How can you use the plan to guide you every day?
Step Ten: Enjoy the Holidays! What can you do to meet your goals as the holidays draw near?
I wish each of you peace of mind this holiday season and a debt-free January. Happy holidays!
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