It’s hard to believe, but the holiday season is almost upon us. The leaves have lowered with the temperature and the dreaded snowfall is imminent. It’s a time when you crave carbs, snuggle up in sweaters, and begin the hibernation process.
Unfortunately, we are not bears and cannot afford to shut down for a few months. At a time when all you want to do is curl up under a blanket on the couch and watch all the shows you missed while gardening, the demands on family, friends, and work increase dramatically.
It’s the season for holiday shopping, parties and entertainment. It’s the season for extreme wear and tear on our energy, wardrobe, and pocketbook. It’s the season to spend.
Before you start making your list and double checking it, it may be time to ask yourself why. Here are some scenarios:
- You are invited to a work party. Now the panic begins. What are you wearing? Your first instinct will be to run out and buy a new outfit, shoes and accessories. Stop, ask why? Go through your closet first, chances are you have a classic outfit that would look fantastic. If that’s the case, why would you buy a new one? Who do you want to impress and need to?
- You are organizing a party. If you have ever organized an event in your home, you have an idea of how much it costs both in time and money. You run around cleaning your house until it’s spotless so no one knows what it normally looks like. If these are the people you’re inviting into your home, your sanctuary, do you think they’ll mind if there’s a little dust on the top of the mirror? If they do, you may want to ask why you’re inviting them over to your house. Now comes the cost of all the party decorations, props, food and drink. When you add all that up, maybe it’s time to suggest a meeting at a restaurant/salon.
- You need to complete your Christmas shopping. We’ve talked about this before and how easy it is to spend your budget on even a small list of people to shop for. Sit down with your list, assign an amount to each person. Then ask, why am I buying for them or why am I spending so much?
In a world where social media is the standard by which people exist, it’s easy to get caught up in spending. The hard part is identifying if you’re doing it because you really want to or because you want to impress someone. Psychological studies have shown how much of an impact a like or share has on our psyche and confidence. Why is it worth the stress and strain on your wallet?
