2020 has been quite a year, hasn’t it?
That’s probably an understatement. For a lot of families, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives in ways we’ll never forget. And, for some of us, it’s taken a hard toll on our bank accounts.
Whether you’ve been furloughed, let go from your job, or felt the economic effects of the pandemic for other reasons, you might be looking ahead to the holiday season with hesitation.
Most importantly, remember that this is just one year. The year 2020—and all the craziness that has come with it—shall pass. Next Christmas might look a lot different, so keep in mind that this is just a season.
Here are several ideas:
Be honest with your kids and realistic with yourself.
Everything about this year has been weird, so your kids probably won’t be surprised that the holiday season might look different. But you still have to tell them. Let them see your budget for the season and explain to them why it’s different (job loss, fewer clients, etc.). The last thing you want to do is try and maintain the same spending as in the past by stretching yourself and piling up debt on a credit card.
Actually make a budget.
“Budget” means different things to different people. It’s not a loose idea of how much you want to spend without any real boundaries. Sit down and type it out on a spreadsheet and decide on a solid number you’re willing to reasonably spend on each person in the family. The earlier you do this, the more time you have to get creative with spending and make sure your kids know the budget is tighter this year.
Plan experiences.
If spending is really, really tight—to the point of almost being off the table—plan experiences instead. If weather permits, go hiking or take a picnic at the park. Plan a Christmas Day movie marathon. Break out a 1,000 piece puzzle or a few board games. Get everyone involved in cooking lunch or dinner. During this pandemic, many of us have learned the value of family—and the holiday season is another opportunity to reinforce that.
Make something.
Every single person in your family has a talent. Use that talent to make gifts for each other. Whether knitting a blanket, making a family memories video, or drawing a painting, everybody can pitch in and create something. And honestly, isn’t something that was personally made more memorable than stuff bought from a store anyway?
Use this as a teaching opportunity.
Stuff costs money, and kids need to understand that. Help them see that you have a set limit to spend, and you can’t go over that amount—plus, be honest about the consequences if you did. Let them make their own budget for Christmas spending so they can really get a feel for how important a budget is.
Most importantly, remember that this is just one year. The year 2020—and all the craziness that has come with it—shall pass. Next Christmas might look a lot different, so keep in mind that this is just a season.
Stay focused on all the positives this season brings—family time, a focus on giving, and remembering the greatest gift the world ever received: Jesus!
Topics: Celebrations, Family Life, Featured, Seasonal
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