10 Ways to Prepare for a Low Cost Holiday – please add to the list!

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Except for my annual mocking of the retail stores having their Christmas stuff out in OCTOBER,  talking about holiday stuff was the furthest thing from my mind.  That is until the question hit me live on the  “Ask Shandel” show… “Shandel, there are only 60 days until Christmas. What are some tips to prepare for an economically difficult holiday season?”  WHAT ?  I was totally taken off guard and yet totally immersed myself into the subject as we started talking.  It so ignited my passion, I decided to develop the thought for my monthly newsletter.

The experience also reinforced an idea I have for the Life 301 (BE YOU) Alumni. On Dec. 10th, I am offering a free call to prepare for the holidays (emotionally and intentionally) – so watch Alumni for your invitation and the announcement in the newsletter.

Listen in to the show and then enjoy the full article below… Please, please add your comments and ideas below and do share any gift or unique family traditions that have been hugely successful for you and yours.  REMEMBER – be intentional and start preparing now .

Segment 1

Segment 2

Family Tradition Example

We all know that 2009 has been a very difficult year. But I want to take this opportunity to further equip you to take our economic time and make it the most meaningful year to date!

Yesterday on the “Ask Shandel” radio show we talked about what we can do now to prepare for Christmas which at the time was 60 days away. (Freaked me out!) If we try to make up for it by buying gifts left and right, misusing our credit cards, we’ll only get deeper in debt. If we don’t prepare for the season, we may slip into a mini-seasonal depression before or after the holidays!

We can avoid that it, though, with a little intentionality. But it takes thought-and you must do something different from the pattern you have always followed.

So here are my top 10 ways you can prepare for the holiday season at no cost. I invite you to add to this list by commenting …

● Create a Grateful Journal. Each day or night, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, have each family member go around the table and state what they are grateful for. Have a journal you write the thoughts down in and keep it for the years to come. It will be fun for the kids to see what they were grateful for at two years old when they are 20!

● Revisit Values. Take the time to recall or define your top five values. Write them down. Put a goal or action step next to each one, expressing your intention to honor them one by one. (Make sure the goals are measurable and reasonable!)

● Start a New Tradition. Establish a new tradition that doesn’t cost any money but honors one of your top values. Be creative and come up a new one, or bring back one that has been minimized or lost. Traditions bond families. Take the time to build a new tradition as a family and make 2009 a year to remember.

● Dream Forward. On Christmas night, write down an intention or something you would like to accomplish in 2010. Have your family members do the same. Fold up the goal or intention and stick it in the toe of your Christmas stocking. Then on Christmas morning 2010, you will see what you wrote and what you did about your intention. Of course, make sure the paper is small and each person has their name on their stocking.

● Back Cast. Imagine yourself in early 2010 talking to a close friend and reflecting back to the holidays. What do you want to be sharing and bragging about? What was so wonderful and different about this year that made it so special? What are you most proud of for yourself? Write it down and then start planning what it will take to accomplish it – start it now!

● Learn the Love Languages. There are five love languages, according to Gary Chapman: Quality Time, Acts of Service, Physical Touch, Words of Affirmation, and Gifts. If you take the time to know your loved ones’ love languages, you can give them a very meaningful gift. Tell the Words-of-Affirmation person in a homemade card what he or she means to you. Do something for your Acts-of-Service person you have put off, or give them coupons with dates on which you will accomplish the list. You get the idea. Even the Gifts person-the gifts don’t have to cost money. You can read my article on love languages here. Check out the book The Five Love Languages here .

● Give Cashless Gifts. Think of ways you can give gifts that don’t cost money but deliver great value to the receiver. Ask, if you don’t know! Last year, my friend asked her mother-in-law for six coupons for babysitting and she got it! A listener on the show called in and said they gave their kids coupons for all sorts of stuff (my favorite was the “get out of punishment” one).

● Bake Stuff. Bring forth your best recipe and go meet your neighbors. If you are going to do that, start buying one ingredient each week starting now so it won’t break your budget. Yesterday, I bought chocolate chips at Costco!

● Exchange a White Elephant. My family is split on this, but I love it! One year when things were tight and we were between grown kids and grandkids, we did a funny white elephant exchange instead of buying gifts. We all brought something from our house that was “useable” and wrapped it up all pretty and then did the traditional white elephant exchange. We laughed so hard it became my favorite event. There is a “Just Say HO” shirt that has gotten passed since 1992 and we always forget who had it last year. It’s a blast.

● Be Other Centered. As a family, think about what you can do to bless others less fortunate. If you have some extra cash, provide Christmas for those who do not have extra this year. Or-this might be more important-go serve someone who needs help. Put up Christmas lights for an elderly woman, rake leaves, weed a garden, go caroling at the convalescent home. The list is endless. Make it a tradition!

Okay your turn – tell me your ideas and comments!

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