Alicia Nelson-Bell, HCHC
​Empowering Financial Wellness Program Coordinator

The holidays can bring out a lot of different emotions in people, good and bad depending on the communication and preparation that goes into the holidays. The holiday season can be a time of happiness and joy, or they can be a time of stress and anxiety. If all of the holiday planning and preparation is left all on one person, it may lead to that person getting overwhelmed and stressed and in some cases some tension if not everyone in the family is happy with the holiday plans. It can be hard to get everyone in the family in on the planning, so here are 5 tips to help you get the family all in on the holiday joy and planning. 

1. Talk about expectations of what everyone is hoping for and wanting out of the holidays (activities, travel, gifts, decorations, etc.). Be sure to have a conversation and use this to help guide your holiday planning. If you don’t orchestrate the holidays and plan them out, odds are that they won’t come together as well as you hoped for. Being on the same page when it comes to planning the holidays as far as travel, gift giving, and attending events can help reduce tension among family members. 
2. Combine traditions. What traditions does each member of the family enjoy that you want to make sure happens this year? Are there any traditions that your family wants to do without this year or that may not fit in the budget this year?
3. Have a shared calendar, either a physical, wall calendar or syncing the calendars on your phones. As you talk about expectations and establish your plans, having a shared calendar can help make sure you are all on the same page of the different activities and get-togethers going on that different family members would like to participate in. This can also help you strategize as a family how you would like to best utilize your time and the funds you have set aside for the holidays. This may also be helpful to make sure you aren’t over booking yourselves so much that the holidays are more stressful than enjoyable. 
4. Try to get everyone’s input and make sure to plan at least one tradition or event that each person, especially the kids will like. Different kids each have different things they would like to contribute to the holidays. Also, plan out ways to give within your family and outside of your family. How can each family member be a part of giving whether it is time or monetarily. You may also brainstorm together ways every member of the family can contribute funds to help pay for the different extra expenses of gift giving and travel. Are there extra chores kids could do around your house or for family, friends or neighbors that they could receive a little money for?​
5. It’s important that as you plan out your holidays, you keep in mind the true meaning of the holiday, no matter which holiday you are celebrating, so you don’t get too caught up in the commercialization and hustle and bustle of the holiday. It’s about finding what works best for your family to be able to remember and observe the true meaning of the holiday, not what the media says you should be doing or what works best for your neighbors or other family members. As you involve the whole family in planning out your holiday season, help them remember not to compare themselves to what other people have or are doing. 

Have fun with your family and friends this holiday season without the stress and tension that can come from leaving all the holiday planning up to one person, or not carefully orchestrating your holiday plans!

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Alicia Nelson-Bell, Empowering Financial Wellness Program Coordinator

It’s Christmas in July! Yep. You heard me right! You may be thinking to yourself,  “How can I be thinking about the holidays right now when my budget is already being squeezed so tight"?  But really, it's a good reason to start thinking about a plan for holiday spending sooner than later this year. Creating a plan and being a bit more prepared financially will pay off big time.

Why the friendly reminder?
In the 3rd quarter of 2021, AKA when most people did their holiday shopping, Americans added over $74 billion to credit card balances. Over 80% of those who put holiday expenses on their credit card carry a balance for an average of 3 months after the holidays and are paying an average of 18% interest. This makes those “good deals” you scored not so great when you pay 18% or more interest on them for multiple months! 

Shauna Barfuss, Empowering Financial Wellness Program Coordinator

Have you been feeling FOMO = the fear of missing out? Maybe this December you have a constant running list in your head, of all the things you feel you need to do, i.e.: stockings by the chimney with care…sugar cookies…decorating…family parties…friend parties…work parties…neighbor parties…shopping...gifts for neighbors...grandparents...teachers…check check check…oh yea and the kids! 
 
Do you feel the fear of missing out might just be leaving you missing out on the JOY of the season?
 
How about another acronym instead of FOMO...JOMO = the JOY of missing out?
 
A friend of mine, who is a bit older-and a bit wiser, mother once said to me, “You know we try so hard to give our kids everything we didn’t have, but are we forgetting to give them everything we DID have?”
 
So hold on Rudolph let’s reign in the season with some JOMO! Instead of all the shopping, parking lots, eating out, walking through malls and big boxes, what if we chilled and gave our kids things we had, the things we don’t want them to miss out on which easily fit in any budget:

• Take time to read a bedtime story
• Sing their favorite Christmas song at bedtime
• Build a snowman
• Drink hot cocoa with a side of crispy buttered toast
• Play Christmas music
• Sit in the dark under the lit Christmas tree telling stories of when you were a child at Christmas
• Watch the FREE Christmas episodes as a family on the couch wrapped up in blankets.
• Write love notes of appreciation

Elizabeth Davis, USU Extension Assistant Professor

Initially, I intended to write about how to save money for special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays. But in light of what is happening right now, I'd like to focus on celebrating, especially during hard times. I've learned during the Covid-19 pandemic that despite the uncertainties that we are experiencing... life goes on. There continue to be weddings, anniversaries, births, and other special occasions. Valentine's day is right around the corner. So, how do we celebrate in times of financial uncertainty? Here are three tips to help you prepare to celebrate Valentine's day (or any special day) during economic uncertainty.  

Wishing you a happy and safe New Year holiday!