How to Prevent Your Holiday Spending From Going Out of Control

By -

I am not an extravagant. I keep a close eye on my spendings. But there comes a time in the year when I want to splurge. We all do. Festivals are a great excuse for that! As usual, this year I was out for shopping with a long list. Old habits die hard and having a list is a much while shopping. I went 7 times to shop for Diwali. Yes, 7!

It was all good the first time. I bought many things - all useful and I didn’t care for the price. On the second day, I bought many things I liked, some unnecessary and some ‘new in the market’ - oh, I must try these! It was only after my 3rd Diwali haul, I realized I was piling bags in my bedroom and I might not use them all. It shook me as I am that ‘I stick to the list’ type of girl. So, where was I wrong? I took my list to have a close look and here’s what I found out -

Set a Budget

I had a list but I had no budget. Even with splurging we need a budget. We shouldn’t max-out our credit cards. And we shouldn’t exhaust our money on unnecessary items. After a careful analysis, I set a budget for everything. Everything, including spontaneous purchases. It’s important to have a budget on holidays. Allocate money for gifts, home decor, food, parties, and also for festive indulgences. Don’t let the pressure of staying within the budget takes away the fun.


Comments

  1. Lady FiNovember 22, 2016 at 12:11 AM

    I've never been a make-lists kind of person, but I do try and keep an eye on what I buy - especially during Christmas when it's too easy to overspend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalNovember 22, 2016 at 12:59 PM

      That's good. As long as someone knows how to keep a tab on them, means are irrelevant.

      Delete
  2. ekta khetanNovember 22, 2016 at 7:46 AM

    I end up spending additional and will definitely read this.

    BTW, congrats on your new finance blog! :*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalNovember 22, 2016 at 1:01 PM

      It's not my blog, I contribute there.

      Thanks for reading, Ekta!

      Delete
  3. Harish P INovember 22, 2016 at 11:02 AM

    Makes Sense. Checked the money view blog.

    ReplyDelete
  4. VaisakhiNovember 23, 2016 at 3:57 AM

    Haha budget comes when I can fix a list...I am so bad at shopping that I dont do it most of the time and when I do I dont keep a track of the budget. Deciding to not shop at all during this week - let's see how it goes *hiding my face*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalDecember 5, 2016 at 9:42 AM

      Oh! Hope the resolutions worked for you, Vaisakhi!

      Delete
  5. DipanwitaNovember 23, 2016 at 4:57 AM

    I really need to read this. I do not think twice before spending on unnecessary stuff

    ReplyDelete
  6. Rahul BhatiaNovember 25, 2016 at 3:00 AM

    Useful tips, Saru

    ReplyDelete
  7. Writefully YoursNovember 26, 2016 at 1:53 AM

    Ah! I wish I had read this 2 days ago!!! Totally went all guns blazing to malls on Black Friday!!! :D

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Bricks, brickbats, applause - say it in comments!

Popular posts from this blog

Rewind - September 2023

By -
 I wrote the following in September. Sometimes, I feel I will forget the art of writing couplets because I am not writing at all this year. I strongly believe you have to practice to hone your craft. And I am not doing that. Perhaps I schedule a time to write a poem. Or I need better time management skills. Date Published 09/05/2023 मुझे उसके जाने का इतना अफ़सोस नहीं हुआ  जितना इस बात का कि इतने सालों तक उसे रहने ही क्यों दिया  Love, Saru
Read more

यूँ दो चार घंटे के लिए नहीं

By -
Image
फ़ुर्सत में मिलना मुझसे यूँ दो चार घंटे के लिए नहीं  सिर्फ़ हाल चाल नहीं पूछना बातें करनी है तुमसे कई देखना है तुम्हें एक टक शिकवे करने है तुमसे कई हज़ार जब नाराज़ हुए थे तुम मुझसे और जब छेड़ा था मुझे बीच बाज़ार चवन्नी-अठन्नी सा ढोंग मत करना मान लेना मेरे हर कहे को सुबकियाँ से काम मत चलाना बेहने देना ग़र आँसू बेहे तो  सख़्त होने का दिखावा छोड़ आना नुक्कड़ वाले बनिये की दुकान पे सिद्दत से एक बार बोल देना  कि गलती होती है इंसान से तुम मुझे छोड़ गए उसका तुम्हें कभी अफ़सोस हुआ है क्या मैं नहीं तुमसे पूछूँगी  कि मेरे बाद मेरी तरह किसी को छुआ है क्या  ना मैं इस युग की मीरा हूँ  ना हो तुम मेरे घनश्याम बस इश्क़ है तुमसे बेपन्नह मुझे बाक़ी सब कुछ है मुझमें आम  तुम भी सोचते होगे ना  यह तीली सा इश्क़, ज्वालामुखी कब हुआ यूँ समझ लो तुम्हारे जाने के बाद तुम्हारे ख़याल ने दिन में 100 बार मुझे छुआ अब गणित में तो तुम अव्वल हो हिसाब लगा ही लोगे पर सोच के आना जनाब  पिछले 15 सालों का हिसाब कैसे दोगे  तो आना बस फ़ुरसत में  यूँ दो चार घंटे के लिए नहीं  सिर्फ़ हाल चाल नहीं पूछना बातें करनी है तुमसे कई
Read more

I Am Not Alone

By -
Image
Last year blessed me, He walked silently into my life. It was Love, That took me in its stride. One evening we walked holding hands, Then, I told him what I felt in heart. He said we were one soul, Who were living in parts. To bring the parts together, We fought with the world and tied the knot. Being one soul, Gave life a whole new spot. Chirping birds, floating clouds, Nature conspired for us. Always swimming against the tide, Life was in an adrenaline rush. This year cursed me, He walked silently out of my life. It was Death, That took him in its stride.       Yesterday his soul was saying, Fearing memories will fade, he can’t move on. He will stay and admire me, Standing always by my side from dusk to dawn. Image Source - Here
Read more