SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Making a list and checking it twice can go a long way in keeping holiday spending in line. A financial coach in Sacramento says it starts with looking at your calendar.
It’s December and the holidays are in full swing. People have places to be, food to buy and gifts to give. Still, Paley says it’s not too late to look at what you have planned and where your money fits in.
“What are the things I really have to do, and what are the things I really want to do,” said financial coach Maureen Paley. “There might be something on your list this year that you’re saying, ‘Oh boy, I feel like I should do that, but I don’t really want to,’ so I would recommend pay attention to that.”
She also suggests splitting the cost of transportation, try carpooling or getting a Lyft or Uber with another person heading to the same area. For example, if you’re visiting family a few hours away or you need to get to the airport, see if a friend or coworker is also heading that way to help share the cost of the drive.
“A lot of times, when we can work with someone else on the cost of things, it feels a lot better for our budgets and our pocketbooks,” said Paley.
Keep in mind choosing convenience will likely cost you.
“Take a look at the money coming in, try to put some aside for those days when you’re like, ‘I just need to choose convenience,’ and the thing is oftentimes when we choose convenience, that means there’s extra money involved,” said Paley.
Paley also recommends talking with your friends and family about setting a price limit for gift giving or hosting a potluck where everyone brings one dish instead of one person bearing the cost of the whole meal.
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