This is probably the most overlooked tip for effective money management over the Christmas season. By spending the time to write out a budget, prior to any Christmas spending, you will be more aware of what to purchase and what prices you can afford. Usually what happens in the flurry to get ready for entertaining a lot of very expensive and unnecessary purchases are made, often without even realizing how these items are adding onto the cost of the entertainment.
To effectively plan a budget first consider the various categories you may have for your Christmas party and entertainment planning. Some suggested categories may be:
? Christmas foods ? turkey, vegetables, salads, breads, desserts, condiments, snacks or appetizers
? Christmas drinks ? soda, mixers, alcoholic beverages, wine for dinner, liqueurs,
juices
? Christmas decorations ? table cloths, place settings, floral centerpieces, name place holders, serving bowls
? Entertainment and facility ? hall rental, DJ, band, deposits
? Staff ? bartenders, caterers, serving staff, clean up
? Miscellaneous ? invitations, postage, gas for running errands
The next step is to prioritize these categories. For instance, if you are serving a full meal for a Christmas dinner the foods category may be the first priority, or the one that you wish to emphasize the most. If you are having a formal dinner in a hall with large numbers then besides food the facilities and staffing requirements will also be a priority.
Christmas decorations and table settings are often something that can be reasonably lower on the list of priorities as many of the decorations can be made at home and require very little money to make beautiful items. Looking a place settings in stores and restaurants at this time can often provide some terrific ideas for low cost decorating ideas that you can do yourself.
After you have set your budget and prioritized your spending the next step is to start buying. Avoid any impulse buying and stick only to those things that you have on your list. If you are not good at this and tend to buy more items than you went to the store for perhaps having someone else do the shopping for you is a good idea. Make sure that they are aware of exactly what you want and you will be amazed at how "on budget" you can stay!
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