Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Living Well

Fall is one time families with children must carefully manage spending. First, August means buying school supplies and clothing for growing kids. There is little time to recover from paying these expenses before holiday buying begins.

If you want to stay out of a financial post-holiday bind, now is the time to plan your holiday spending.

Do what Santa does. Make a list of family members and how much you plan to spend on individual and family gifts, stocking stuffers and the like. What to buy can be decided later. Include costs for handmade and homemade gifts in your spending plans. Supplies and ingredients such as craft supplies, nuts, fruits and spices can add up.

Ask yourself what you must do to pay cash for your holiday items rather than use a credit card and wonder how you are going to pay off the balances next January and February.

By starting now, there will also be time to consider using some additional strategies to stretch your holiday dollars.

• Draw names. This cuts your gift list. Or spend more for gifts for the persons whose names you draw and buy stocking stuffers for others you want to remember.
• Set limits. Buy gifts, like toys, for children up to a certain age. Set simpler limits for older children, such as money for post holiday sales shopping or use cards instead of gifts.
• Comparison shop. Start early and you will have time to compare prices and perhaps take advantage of sales and specials.

Remember the reason for the season. It is the gift that counts not the price. Involve family members when you make these decisions. You may find that others were afraid to bring up the idea of simplifying the holidays.

For more information on money management, contact the office of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service at 887-2818.