Five Tips to Help You Survive the Holidays

Posted By Alicia Chinatomby in Holiday, Lifehacks

BreakingModern — When the seasons change and we bring out the big puffy coats it can only mean one thing: The holidays are upon us. But that doesn’t mean it’s all fun and games. The holidays are supposed to be about spending quality time with loved ones. But more and more, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are all about the shopping. For some people, the holidays are a big drag. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Here’s how to survive the holidays.

Be Patient

Patience is a virtue that everyone doesn’t possess during this wonderful giving season. Still, to survive the mayhem for a month and a half, patience is going to be what gets you through the craziness. Dealing with thousands of people shopping for 27 days straight is a nightmare. Instead of dwelling on hitting every store, map out all of the important sales you want to take advantage of. And if you don’t have in-person patience, there’s always the option of shopping online. This is a great way for you to avoid the crowds at the mall and save your time for more important things.

Budget Yourself 

Budget your money for end-of-year sales. A great way to do this is by creating a two-column list. In one column, write down all the people you plan to buy Christmas presents for. In the second column, jot down the amount of money you’re willing to spend on them. Or better yet, check out great gift options under $30. This way, you won’t spend too much money on buying gifts. No one wants to start the New Year in debt, after all. Don’t wait until Christmas Eve to do your Christmas shopping because the prices will be so expensive you will certainly end up with a burning hole in your pocket. Creating a budget is the key to ending the year without extra debt.

Plan Ahead

It’s likely that many of your friends, coworkers and neighbors will host holiday parties this year. And many of these get-togethers will surely suck money out of your wallet. Try to pace yourself. You don’t have to go to every single Christmas and New Year’s party on the block. One last piece of advice: whenever you go to a party, make sure to eat and drink in moderation. There’s always one clueless person who has a little too much to drink. Try not to be that person.

Remember the Real Reason for the Holidays

It’s tough to get into the true meaning of Christmas and Thanksgiving when many retailers are promoting shopping as opposed to encouraging family bonding. The holidays are about spending time with the people you care about. And if the people you’re close to aren’t geographically close … a simple phone call is always appreciated.

Spend Time Alone

If group activities aren’t high on your holiday list, don’t force yourself to spend time with people. Instead, spend some quiet time with your Kindle or volunteer at a local soup kitchen. There’s another way to keep yourself company: Get a head start on spring cleaning. Get rid of anything you haven’t used in the past year so you can make room for new opportunities in 2015.

For BMod, I’m Alicia Chinatomby.

First Image: © Maksim Pasko / Dollar Photo Club

Second/Featured Image: © fuido / Dollar Photo Club