Many people are stressing out about their 2020 Christmas budget. I completely understand. If you have children then you want to put presents around the tree. And yet, it’s been a hard year and finances have been tough for many people. Interestingly, though, it’s actually easier this year than most years to set and stick to a Christmas budget.
2020 Changed My Priorities
Obviously we all know that we can’t predict the future. Nevertheless, we make plans as though we can. 2020 shocked me into really remembering that we truly don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. Our daily lives will change in big and small ways.
This helped me to really look at my priorities. If I can only make choices for today, what matters most to me? Sure, I could take this and run with it in the direction of, “might as well spend everything you have since tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.” But that’s not what I feel like at all. I feel like focusing on the deep, inner core values that mean the most to me.
In a year when I was unable to spend a lot of time with the people that I care about, the time that we did spend together mattered so much more. Who cares about giving material gifts to one another when the gift of time means so much? Even if “time” is phone calls and handwritten letters, it’s where my heart lies right now.
Gingerbread Party Was Canceled
One of the biggest costs in my annual Christmas budget is a gingerbread house crafting party that I host each year. My best friend and I ask all of the guests to bring their own graham crackers, icing, and candy to share. Nevertheless, we always end up spending more than we expected – on food, drinks, craft supplies, extra candy.
I absolutely never regret this. It’s my favorite part of the holiday season. It’s a tradition that I picked up from another friend well over a decade ago, and I’m so glad that I stuck with it. And I’m bummed that it’s not happening this year. I hope to have a different version in the spring when social gatherings open up again. But for now, the silver lining is that I don’t have to think twice about the budget because it’s not part of it this year.
I Found a New Way to Give to Charity
I think it’s important to give to the causes that you care about. Often, I do that with money (as well as donations of secondhand goods.) However, I had to get creative this year. If you saw my post about Dressember, you’ll see how I did that. I found a way to give my time, energy, and educational information online while raising funds that help to fight human trafficking. It doesn’t cost me cash, but it allows the people in my network who do have a little to spare to help me help others. It’s a win-win.
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Christmas Budget through technology
It is a year when budget is a priority. Here are some examples of some technologies that you can use for budgeting. Keeping track of expenses will life peaceful.
| App | Fees and Minimum | Best for: |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Capital | Free | Monitoring wealth and spending |
| Simplifi | Free | Personal budgeting |
| YNAB | $84 a year or $11.99 a month (after a 34-day free trial), free for students for 12 months. | Personal budgeting |
Christmas is different this year for a lot of us. For me, many things remain the same. What doesn’t, I’ve worked hard to find the joy, the silver lining, in it all. How are you celebrating Christmas this year?
Read More:
- 8 Economical Gifts You Can Give To Your Kids
- Our No Cost Christmas For 2020
- 28 Gift Ideas That Save Money for the Recipient
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Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way.
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