There may still be 80 days to Christmas as of Oct. 13, but as far as Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada (CCCS) are concerned, you may already be missing opportunities to plan your spending.
They have launched their third 100 Days – 100 Ways to Save for Christmas campaign, offering advice on how to go on that annual spree without incurring a ‘financial hangover.’
“The winter holidays represent the busiest shopping time of the year, with data showing the average Canadian expects to spend $885 on Christmas gifts, decorations and food this year,” said Jeff Schwartz, executive director of CCCS.
That kind of spending can land cash-strapped families in serious financial trouble.
To drive that message home, and help people make merry without going broke, CCCS will be sharing 100 tips that will help you tweak your Christmas spending to keep in within your budget.
They are also inviting Canadians to ‘get in on the fun’ by sharing their own money-saving words of wisdom using the Twitter hashtag #100Days100Ways.
“We’ll be giving away gift cards for the best Tweet,” adds Schwartz. “Every little bit helps during the holidays, and a gift card can help participants pay with plastic in a way that won’t cost them a cent.”
Follow @ConsolidatedCA on Twitter to get Christmas saving tips over the next 100 days. In the meantime, CCCS shared a few ideas:
• Set your holiday budget today. Making a spending plan will help stretch your holiday dollar and keep you out of the red.
• End of summer sales can mean great deals on last years ‘must-have’ items. Stores are clearing out stock, which can translate into bargains for your budget.
• Don’t lose sight of the true spirit of the season. Speak to your family and agree on spending limits for this year’s gifts.
•Give up a small indulgence to free up extra cash for the holidays. Eliminating a medium coffee for 100 days means you will have an extra $170 in your pocket for Christmas.
In short, do everything you can to keep the ‘Merry’ in Christmas right into the New Year and beyond.
