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When Deployment Is the Reason Mom or Dad Won’t Be Home for the Holidays

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The holidays are coming and you are supposed to be getting excited about the season, however, this year, your spouse is not going to be there. They are going to be on a deployment or away on training.

When Deployment Is the Reason Mom or Dad Won't Be Home for Christmas

It may be hard for your child to understand why their parent is on a deployment during the holidays.

Many military families have been through this. For us personally, my husband has missed quite a few holidays because he has been deployed or had to be away from us for different reasons.

As soon as you know that your spouse will be deployed for the holidays, you need to make a plan to tell your kids. If they are very young you might not have to say much if anything at all. Just do what you would normally do.

If they are older and can understand what is going on, let them know that a parent will be gone because of a deployment. Explain to them that the parent who has to be away because of the deployment wants to be there for the holidays but they will not be able to. Share how much they will miss being home during that time.

Help the child understand that the deployment is the reason the parent will be gone and not because they don’t want to be there.

When Deployment Is the Reason Mom or Dad Won't Be Home for Christmas

Plan to decorate and celebrate, even if your spouse isn’t home this holiday season.

If there is a small chance that your spouse might make it home in time, don’t tell your children about that. Planning to surprise them later with the news that the deployment is over would be better than having to tell them that their mom or dad will not be there after you told them they would be.

After you have told your children you should decide what you will do during the holidays when your spouse is deployed. Some people decide to visit family. I was able to do this one year and being with family made that time during the deployment a lot easier on me and my son.

If you can not visit family, maybe you can have someone come to you. Ask your family to see if anyone is willing to come if they do not offer. They might not realize how much being there would be able to help you during the deployment.

Another option is to find friends to spend the day with who are also in the middle of a deployment. We did this with my husband’s second deployment. He was going to be gone for Christmas so I made a plan with a few of my friends. We had Christmas at our own homes and then met at a friend’s house to make a Christmas meal together. That way, we were not alone, our kids would have other children to play with and being with others helped us not dwell on the fact that our husbands were deployed. The day went well and we all had a great time.

If your spouse is going to be gone for the whole holiday season you should still plan to decorate and celebrate as much as you can.

Some parts of the holiday will be different. You might not make a big meal and you won’t be able to play Santa together but keeping a lot of the same traditions as you normally do each year is important for the kids. You don’t want them to feel like they are missing out on everything just because their mom or dad is deployed.

Try to keep your spirits up during this time. Remember that the deployment will be over eventually and you can always have a belated celebration then. Do the best you can to make the holidays great for you and your children even if your spouse is gone on a deployment.

What are your tips for talking to your children about deployment during the holiday season?

5 Military-Themed Elf on the Shelf Ideas

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Children go crazy over Elf on the Shelf and many parents across the world love it and have fun creating magical moments with their children. I am very excited to join in the Elf on the Shelf craze with our 2-year-old this year. There are so many fun ideas to get the family into the holiday spirit.

5 Military-Themed Elf on the Shelf Ideas

What is Elf on the Shelf?

For those that haven’t heard of it yet, it is an exciting way to bring the holidays alive. You can purchase one of Santa’s scout elves at most retailers across America and online. These elves are magical helpers that enable Santa to manage his naughty and nice list. They watch children throughout the day and then report to Santa about their behavior nightly. Once a family gives the elf a name it becomes magical and can fly back to the North Pole each night. When it returns to the family’s home, it chooses a new place each day to watch the children.

The personality of your elf reflects the family. Your Elf on the Shelf may be crafty, mischievous, silly or simply fun. Children will have fun each morning hunting for the elf. Is it in the living room, the bathroom or kitchen? What has he been up to all night since flying back to the family?

Here are 5 military-themed Elf on the Shelf ideas to bring the fun to your home.

 

Military Elf on the Shelf

5 Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Military Families

Military Elf on the Shelf idea by Veterans United Network.

Dress your magical Elf on the Shelf in his very own ACUs/BDUs and make dog tags out of aluminum foil to start the season off in real military style. You don’t need to break out the sewing machine for this cute outfit. You can find camouflage tape at craft stores.

Salute the Flag

I love this idea by Picklehead Soup blog. Set up your Elf on the Shelf under the tree so the light is shinning bright on your elf. Position him so that he is saluting the American flag. If you have a GI Joe or other uniformed toy have it hold the flag. Don’t have an action figure like this? Use the camouflage tape you dressed the elf in previously. Using this position on December 7 can give you the opportunity to talk to your children about Pearl Harbor.

5 Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Military Families

Elf on the Shelf saluting the American flag by Picklehead Soup.

American Hero Elf on the Shelf Support

Is your service member deployed? This is a great way to have your Elf on the Shelf include them in the family holiday fun. You can purchase a small picture frame at the Exchange or make one yourself. Position the Elf on the Shelf tucked in bed holding a picture of the deployed parent. This will show that your elf is also thinking of mom or dad and make the children feel like this is a personal experience.

5 Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Military Families

Phot by Rachel Affield via Pinterest.

Patriotic Elf

Is your military spouse about to deploy? Did you recently move? There’s likely to be a collection of military gear around the house. Gather a group of items and have your elf sit with it. This shows that your elf knows what’s going on and is there with the family.

5 Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Military Families

Jennie Furlow’s Elf on the Shelf supporting Daddy via Blue Star Families.

The Crafty Elf on the Shelf

If you have an extra set of ACUs/BDUs have your elf get a little crafty. If you don’t have any extras, you’ll likely find some at thrift stores. Cut up a portion of them and position him with a pair of scissors sitting next to it as though he did it. This could be a good way to introduce your children into the fun craft of making military-themed ornaments.

5 Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Military Families

KB Crafting Solutions has an inspired Elf on the Shelf.

There are so many patriotic ways to bring military life into your home this holiday season. Have fun and be creative.

Share your Elf on the Shelf ideas in the comments section.

25 Reasons to Give Back This Holiday Season

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When my sister-in-law asks for my kids’ Christmas wish lists, I sigh. I look around our living room and I see piles of toys that were once loved, but have since been forgotten. The kids don’t want to pick up their toys and put them away. And they are always whining for the newest and greatest toy that the neighbor has and they want. Desperately.

My sisters and I love to buy each other gifts. But around the holidays, there’s a mad dash to find a thoughtful, useful and personal gift when I simply don’t have the desire or energy to shop. I would rather be with my sisters than shopping for my sisters.

This Christmas I am considering a different approach to gift giving. Instead of using our money to buy, buy, buy, we could use our money that we allocated for our holiday gifts by making a donation to our favorite charities through the Combined Federal Campaign or CFC.

The CFC is the world’s largest annual workplace charity campaign and it is available to all federal employees, including service members. The CFC offers a convenient way to make a donation to your favorite charity through direct withdrawal from your paycheck. You can do a small amount every pay period or a one-time donation.

Haven’t heard about the CFC at your military installation?

You can connect with your CFC campaign here. The 2015 CFC solicitation period ends December 15.

Are you thinking about scaling down your Christmas budget this year? Are you considering a Christmas that is more about giving to others and less about giving gifts?

Here are 25 reasons why I’m considering making donations to my favorite charities through the CFC instead of buying gifts this holiday season.

Here are 25 reasons why I’m considering giving gifts that give back this holiday season.

  1. I don’t want the Black Friday craziness. The day after Thanksgiving I don’t want to be battling for an electronic device in a big box store. I want to be at home, listening to holiday music and spending time with my husband.
  2. Giving is a teaching opportunity. When we donate money to charities through the CFC, it’s a teaching opportunity for our children. We can talk to them about children who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening medical conditions and what a blessing their health is. We can watch videos on Make-A-Wish’s website so that the girls can see how their donation (instead of gifts) helps a child have their wish granted. Donating to charities, like Make-A-Wish is a teaching opportunity for gratitude and empathy.
  3. Giving back helps me put my life in perspective. I like to tell myself that my children are ungrateful and I am not. But if I really listen to what I complain about (I want a bigger house, a new purse and top-of-the-line tablet), I find that I’m losing perspective on what’s important in life. If I’m not careful I focus on things instead of people. Making the decision to give a donation instead of buying a gift helps me remember that things won’t lead to my happiness.
  4. Wrapping paper and I don’t get along. I really, really don’t like wrapping presents. It’s not my thing.
  5. Buying less leads to a greener Christmas. The majority of the toys we buy our children aren’t manufactured in the United States. By buying less and trying to buy a few locally made items, we can help reduce our carbon footprint this holiday season.
  6. This gift won’t break, tear or need batteries. Aren’t we all disappointed when a toy doesn’t last more than few months? When we give the gift of giving back through the CFC, we know that this gift won’t be tossed in the trash. This gift will be making a difference in someone’s life.
  7. We don’t need anything and others do. We have life’s necessities and more than a few luxuries. Instead of getting more stuff, we can give more to others who need it more than we do.
  8. Making donations through the CFC empower us when we feel powerless. When I watch the news, my heart breaks. I see children who need help. I see women who need help. And I feel powerless to help. I want to be right there in Nebraska after a tornado serving food to families who lost their homes. But I can’t; instead I make a donation to the American Red Cross. Supporting organizations that help people after natural disasters helps me not feel powerless.
  9. There are no shipping costs. I like to shop online so I spend a small fortune on shipping fees to get presents to my family during the holiday season. This year, when I make donation to the CFC instead, I won’t waste money on shipping fees.
  10. My donation is a thank you gift. Thank you USO for offering my family a place to relax and recharge when our flight was canceled.
  11. We can honor our family members who we miss this holiday season. Before he died, my grandfather, a Korean veteran, was able to take an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. He was very grateful for this experience. This year, when I’m missing him and remembering the box of chocolates I used to give him every Christmas, I can instead make a donation to Honor Flight through the CFC.
  12. One donation gives back all year. When you make a donation to an organization like Serve Our Willing Warriors, you know that your donation is helping ill and injured service members and their families throughout the year. It’s a gift that goes beyond December 25.
  13. A donation is a one-size-fits-all gift. I don’t have to worry about sister-in-law returning this gift. I don’t have to worry about nephew already having this gift.
  14. My gift can help a community close to my heart – veterans.  Here are 21 military and veteran charities that I highly recommend.
  15. Less stuff means less stress at PCS time.We know we are going to move again. It’s part of being a military family. When the time comes to move, I can get pretty stressed out with all the stuff we have and trying to make it fit in the new house. With less stuff, my stress levels aren’t as high when I unpack after a PCS.
  16. Gifts that give back reduce my guilt. I would love to volunteer with a few organizations that I really love, but right now, I don’t have that time. (I’m looking forward to doing that when I retired.) Since I can’t give my time, I can give my money and stop feeling guilty about not volunteering.
  17. These gifts aren’t hard to find. When I was a child, I wanted a Cabbage Patch doll like every other 5-year-old in the early 80s. But unlike every other kid, I didn’t get one. They were sold out everywhere.
  18. Gifts that give are the perfect gifts for that person who has everything. You know that person (cough my husband, cough) who has everything and you still feel obligated to give them a gift. Skip the jelly of the month club membership and make a donation through the CFC instead.
  19. I could be done with my holiday shopping today. I’m always annoyed when I see a friend post on Facebook on October 15 “already done with my holiday shopping, now I can concentrate on what really matter this holiday season.” Meanwhile, I don’t even start thinking about the holidays until after Thanksgiving dinner. With a few clicks on the CFC website, I could be done with my holiday shopping. It’s so tempting.
  20. There’s not a temptation to overspend. Every year, I make a holiday gift budget and I vow to stick to it. Then I’m shopping and I get excited about everything I see. My budget goes out the window. When I pledge donations through the CFC, I stick to my budget.
  21. No more waiting in lines. Every December I waste a lot of time standing in line. Standing in line at the store. Standing in line to take a photo of my kids with Santa. Standing in line at the post office.
  22. Take the competition out of Christmas. Even when my husband and I pledge to not buy each other gifts, I get sucked into the holiday competitive spirit. I want to give him some amazing gift to show how much I love him when in reality his love is a gift to me.
  23. Gifts that give back help my military family. We know that for many military families this time of year isn’t the happiest time of year. Organizations like Trees for Troops help military families  by providing free fresh Christmas trees to service members and their families. Another option is Snowball Express. This charity provides “hope and new happy memories to the children of military fallen heroes who have died while on active duty since 9/11.”
  24. These gifts help us to never forget. Through the charity, Wreaths Across America, we placed wreaths at the tombstones at Arlington National Cemetery 3 years ago. This event was the perfect opportunity to talk our children about remembering and honoring those who came before us.
  25. I want to celebrate a meaningful Christmas filled with experiences, not gifts. When we talk about past Christmases, my kids never remember the toys they unwrapped. Here’s what they remember:
  • Putting out reindeer food on Christmas Eve
  • Going to the Nutcracker ballet with their cousins
  • Watching The Sound of Music while snuggled under blankets
  • Sledding with their friends at Lake Tahoe

This year, I hope that I can give my children a meaningful Christmas once again. I hope this Christmas will be a time of reflection about what we have instead of what we think we need.

Has your family stopped giving gifts for the holidays? How did you do it?

How to Amp up the Holiday Spirit When Your Spouse Is Deployed

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I love the holiday season. It’s my absolute favorite time of year because it brings families together to celebrate the wonderful things in our lives. When I was single and lived away from my parents, I always made my way back to my childhood home. It meant everything to be able to spend Christmas with them.

Then, I married my husband and for the first 2 years of our relationship, we were lucky to spend it together with my parents. It felt amazing that the most important things that I loved were together.

6 Tips to Keep the Holiday Spirit When Your Spouse Is Deployed

But, what if you have a loved one that can’t be home for Christmas because of military duty?

Military families are not strangers to separation. Last year, my husband couldn’t be home. I was bummed and seriously didn’t know how I was going to get through a holiday that was typically joyous for me. It’s easy to dismiss the holidays when your spouse is away, so I turned into a bonafide Grinch.

It’s not fair to yourself and the family members that can actually spend time with you this holiday season. Don’t forget the true spirit of the holidays and enjoy yourself and remember all the special moments outside the holiday season that makes it worth it.

Here are my top 6 ways to amp up the holiday spirit, when your spouse is deployed.

6 Tips to Keep the Holiday Spirit When Your Spouse Is Deployed

  1. Stay with family. I exercise this rule a lot. I find that family is a wonderful backbone. Whenever I feel alone, I reach out to them. It’s understandable that sometimes flying or driving to family might be hard, but along your military journey, you’ve most likely made lifelong friends that are a part of your military family. The most important thing is to not be alone. Even with your beloved away, there are so many other people that care about you. Remember that.
  2. Trim the tree and hang the stockings. Keep your family traditions alive and still do everything that you’ve done with your spouse around. Seriously, no cheating when decorating and if you do need help with anything heavy or new ideas, enlist your friends to help you.
  3. Treat yourself to an unexpected gift. As you’re Christmas shopping for others in your family, throw in some items that you’ve been wanting yourself. Last year, I bought a pair of awesome black knee high boots. Yes, it was a little impractical, but I wear these boots every other day during the winter months. When I wear them this year, it’s a nice reminder of the things that I managed to do while he was away. Make sure you plan some “me” time.
  4. Attend a holiday-related show. A friend took me to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Wow. Talk about getting into the holiday spirit! I loved it. There are tons of other shows out there that are holiday-themed. Local ballet companies perform The Nutcracker, so that’s a nice option. Take a look at your local theaters for any other shows or maybe plan a trip to a nearby city that is putting on a good show. Ask around for recommendations.
  5. Plan (if you can) holiday Skype dates with your spouse. When my husband was away, I looked forward to the moments I could see his face. During the holiday season, it was extra special to see him because I was able to share with him everything going on. It meant so much to be able to have any time to talk face-to-face. Every Skype date helped me charge through the holiday season to our inevitable reunion.
  6. Document the holiday season for your spouse. Although your spouse isn’t there in person, they are there in spirit. I’m sure they would appreciate anything that helps them imagine that they are home. The beauty of modern technology is that we have phones that can take pictures and video at any time. When you’re out and experiencing a fun festive activity, grab your phone and snap a few shots. At the end of the season, it’s fun to print everything or create an electronic album to share, so when your spouse comes back, you can relive the memories as if he was there.

What tips do you have for military spouses to enjoy the holiday season when their husbands are deployed? Please share them in the comments section.

10 Ways to Pay It Forward

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As we say hello to December and full steam ahead to Christmas, we can’t help but get caught up with the shopping craze. I’m guilty. I have an internal clock that is counting down my shopping days.

Sometimes we can forget the underlying meaning of the season and miss out on great opportunities to give back to the community. These little acts make a big difference in people’s lives and it all adds up for a positive and promising future. The best part of random acts of kindness are that they are relatively easy to do and can give you a sense of fulfillment.

Want to feel good this holiday season? Pay it forward with these 10 simple ideas:

  1. Help your neighbor. Does the couple across the street desperately need a date night? Or is your neighbor going through a deployment? Offer to watch the kids or head over for a chat. We’ve all been there and need that support. 10 Ways to Pay It Forward and Feel Good This Season
  2. Donate to Toys For Tots or any other charitable organization. It’s easy enough to piggyback another toy in your Christmas shopping and share with families in-need. Keep the love going after the holidays by volunteering with a local charity.
  3. Pitch in for the next person’s coffee. If you’re like me, then you understand the need for coffee. It’s my fuel for the day. When you’re at your favorite coffee shop, let the barista know that you would love to buy a coffee for the next person in line, especially if you notice they are struggling a bit more than you are on that particular morning.
  4. Double your typical tip to commissary baggers. I tend to start conversations with my commissary baggers, especially because I park far away to avoid the congestion closer to the entrance. On one of my first solo commissary adventures, I was particularly moved by a young teen’s determination to save money before he started college. He was the son of a soldier on post and starting his first semester away from home. His story stuck with me because I knew how it felt to be in his shoes. After that, I make it an effort to go the extra mile when I can. It’s just a few more dollars after all.
  5. Sacrifice your parking or line spot to another person. Sometimes we have a sixth sense when it comes down to gauging if a person is in need. When you’re behind the wheel and see someone else that might need that closer spot, motion for them to take it and the same goes for a struggling mom or dad in line at the commissary or exchange.
  6. Raid your closet. Donate items that you haven’t wore in about a year or so because let’s be honest, you probably won’t wear them again anyway. It’s a pre-PCS purge that feels good and helps others.
  7. Host a get-together for a friend. Did you find out about a recent promotion or have another reason to celebrate? Take the time to put together a party in honor of someone else in your life.
  8. Visit your local VA hospital or elderly care facility. Because of the military lifestyle, we may end up setting roots far from our immediate family, especially in our later years. My parents and grandparents live in completely different states– and here I am more than a thousand miles away from both. Try sharing a meal with an elderly couple or just having a conversation. You could learn so much from them and it could make you appreciate the bonds you have within your own family.
  9. Give an unsolicited compliment. If I see another person with cute shoes or purse, I chime in and let them know. It’s a great way to keep the positivity going.
  10. Smile when you can. When you’re having a particularly good day, smile at strangers while running your errands. Your small gesture could help another person get through their not-so-good day. Smiling is infectious! 10 Ways to Pay It Forward and Feel Good This Season

How are you kind to neighbors and strangers this holiday season? Tell us in the comments section.

5 Tips for Hosting an Ugly Sweater Party This Holiday Season

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‘Tis the season for holiday cheer, gift giving, hot cocoa, cozy fires, tasty cookies, festive parties…and ugly sweaters.

Yes, you read right, ugly sweaters.

Ugly holiday sweater parties have been springing up everywhere! In my opinion, the ugly sweater trend heated up as early millennials looked back at their amazingly tacky winter outfits of the ’80s. I know there are lots of gems in my family albums of 10-year-old Rachel wearing some intense snowman sweaters. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for me), all the pictures are at my parents’ house. Otherwise, I would have shared them here.

Naturally, the craze caught on real quick because it’s too much fun to relive the decade of bedazzled Christmas trees, stitching of reindeer– or better yet iron-on appliques. It’s a blast attending an ugly sweater holiday party, but a complete riot when you host your own knitted gala. Plan the perfect party with these 5 simple tips.

5 Tips for Hosting a Delightfully Ugly Christmas Sweater Party This Holiday Season

5 Tips for Hosting an Ugly Sweater Party

  1. Award Prizes. Encourage your friends to go all out by creating a competition. It’s easy to print award certificates at home and head to the dollar store for budget-friendly frames or if you want to hand-make or personalize a gift for each category, go for it! Here are some category suggestions: “Best Thrift Store Find,” “Best DIY Sweater” and “Best Couple’s Sweater.”
  2. Tacky Holiday Decorations. Everywhere. Add awesomely tacky decorations around your home. I’ve used construction paper cut-outs of sweater patterns to place on my furniture and appliances around the house (don’t forget the glitter). You could also use the same shapes and add them on the walls or make a Santa hat and put it on your framed pictures hanging on the walls. If you have extra ugly sweaters (maybe try raiding another family member or close friend’s closet), dress your dining room chairs or any other chairs around the house. I’m sure a trip to your local thrift store would give you more decor inspiration too.5 Tips for Hosting an Ugly Sweater Party
  3. Feed Your Ugly Sweater Attendees. Remember to be specific in your invitation regarding the food situation. That seems pretty obvious, but it could sometimes get confused with an ugly sweater party because there isn’t a set protocol. It’s OK to have a potluck and if you decide to go that route, let your guests know. If you’re planning on feeding attendees, let people know too, so they can arrive hungry.
  4. Say Cheese! Create a photo booth. I absolutely love the photo booth idea because it gives a legitimate reason to document the event. Print out fun captions to put in those extra dollar store frames for people to hold up and grab some headband antlers and other headgear. A wonderful touch would be adding accessories from the ’80s like the big goggle eyeglasses (borrow your spouse’s issued BCGs and snap out the lenses) or dig out your grade school scrunchies. The more you have to include the merrier.
  5. Rock Your Ugly Sweater with Pride. Aim to have the most ridiculous one at the party. With that said, don’t count yourself in the competition. It wouldn’t be fair now, would it?

Have you attended an ugly Christmas sweater party? Submit a photo of you wearing your ugly sweater to the monthly MilitaryShoppers photo contest. You could win a $50 shopping spree. The winner will be announced on December 31.

10 Strategies to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

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‘Tis the season to add a few extra pounds. This time of year is the hardest to stick to your diet and exercise routines. From the yummy foods and pies to the cookie exchanges and parties; from military spouse socials to mom’s home cooking, it is so hard to resist. There is always something to eat and most of the time the foods that are most appealing have the most calories.

Here are 10 strategies for not gaining holiday weight between now and New Year’s Day.

10 Strategies to Avoid the Holiday Weight Gain

1) Start walking. This is a great way to keep moving. If you can’t exercise in any other way, walking is the way to go. You can also do this with family and friends and make it a group event. Even a simple 15 minute walk around your neighborhood each day will help.

2) Keep your workout routine. If you work out Monday, Wednesday and Friday, keep at that. It might be harder to do if you are traveling but you can adjust. If you don’t have access to a gym, go for a run or find a workout video. There is always something you can do. Make this a priority during the holidays.

3) Stick to 1 serving. On Christmas you will see a lot of food in front of you. You should stick to only 1 serving of everything. That means not going back for seconds or thirds even if other people are. Tell yourself ahead of time that you are only going to fill your plate once.

4) Stay away from the cookies. This is a hard one. Holiday sweets add up and that is definitely my own downfall. Try to stick to only eating them on occasion and not every single day. If you bake, try to give away a lot of your goodies before you have a chance to eat them.10 Strategies to Avoid the Holiday Weight Gain

5) Stay active. Plan events that get you moving. Go to a museum or even a mall. Anywhere you can walk around will work. You can even plan a lot of outside events if you live in a warmer climate.

6) Stay away from fast food. It is always a good idea to eat fast food in moderation but staying away from it all together during the holidays is a great way to stay healthy. You want to save the calories you will be eating for Grandma’s homemade pie instead of a burger and fries.

7) Know your calories. If you know you will be going to a lot of potlucks, do some research about common holiday foods and how many calories are in each dish. Know what would be the better choices before you get there. That will make it easier for you to pick the healthy choices.

8) Eat before you go. If you have plans to go to a potluck and you know there will only be foods there you shouldn’t eat, make a healthy meal beforehand and go to the party to socialize. Make sure you are full and won’t want to eat too much.

9) Watch the alcohol. Alcoholic drinks can have a lot of calories. Limit yourself and remember that every drink you have will add to your calorie intake.

10) Don’t beat yourself up. It can be hard to stick to a strict diet this time of year. Do the best that you can with each day.

What are your tips for eating healthy and sticking with your fitness routine during the holiday season?

Reduce the Festive Debt: 6 Ways to Not Overspend During the Holidays

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The holiday shopping season is here!  Whether we like it or not, military families need to start thinking about the holidays. This time of year can be really stressful for people, especially if you are on a tight budget. So what can you do about it?

reduceChristmasdebt

6 Ways to Avoid Overspending During the Holiday Season

  1. Write out your budget and stick to it. I do this ever year. I write out everything we need to purchase from what we will eat on Christmas Day to the teacher’s gifts. On this list, I write down a spending limit on each gift for everyone. Then, when it is time to go shopping, I know what my budget is. The amount you spend on each member of your family will be different for everyone depending on your income and budget.
  2. Share a meal with friends. When you are a military family it might not be feasible to spend the holidays with extended family. Instead of having a meal for just your family, why not get together with others to make a meal together? You won’t have to buy every single ingredient and you will be able to save a little money that way. It is also nice to spend time with friends if you can’t be with your family during the holidays.
  3. Shop the sales. When it comes to buying presents for my kids I am all about the sales. I start checking them early. I want to be able to find the things I want for a discounted rate. I can save a lot of money this way, it just takes some time to figure out which stores have what toys on sale and when they are offering their discounts. You might also consider layaway. This is when you save an item at the store and pay a little bit on it each time you go in. You can take it home when you have paid for it in full. This might be a much better option than putting something on a credit card and trying to pay it off after Christmas. Check if your favorite stores offer this plan.
  4. Make homemade gifts. You can bake some yummy goodies and give those out at gifts too. It is really cost-effective to do this and can be a lot of fun. Most people really enjoy baked goods around this time of year so you can’t go wrong there. If you don’t like to bake but are crafty, there are a lot of different things you can make as gifts. Take a look at the MilitaryShoppers Pinterest boards for ideas.
  5. Stay home. For the past several years we have not gone anywhere for the holidays. The price of airfare is way too high. It would really blow our budget. We have been able to have a nice family Christmas in our own home and it has been great. Our kids wake up in their own home and we don’t have to go anywhere all day long.  This isn’t always an option for everyone but there is something nice about a simple Christmas at home and it will save you a lot of money in travel expenses.
  6. Pick a name. My family is quite small so we don’t do this but I think it would be a good idea for large families. Out of all the adults in the family, you buy a present for 1 person. You get assigned a name and you buy for that 1 person. It can be a fun way of giving for Christmas without having to buy something for every single person in your family.christmas, holidays, technology and shopping concept

The holidays can be a stressful time but they don’t have to be. Try some of these tips to keep your budget under control during this time of year. You will be thankful you did when the credit card statements arrive in January.

What are your tips for reducing debt and spending less during the holiday season?