Easy Ways to Enjoy More Financial Freedom During the Holiday Season

The holiday season is just around the corner, and that means now is the ideal time to start saving money to help you and your family have more fun than ever during the celebratory season. You’ll inevitably have more expenses than usual, whether they relate to presents, dining out with your relatives, or going on trips to visit loved ones who live out of town.

Fortunately, it’s easy to be more mindful of your money during the holidays. The outcome means you won’t feel as stressed and you’ll be uplifted.


* This is a sponsored post, for which I was compensated. Please view my full disclosure.

Explore Layaway Options

One of the tricky things about the holiday season is that some of the things associated with it might cost hundreds of dollars or more. For example, maybe your son wants one of the newest game systems, and you don’t have enough money to pay for it now, but it’s the only item he wants under the Christmas tree this year.

In that common scenario, consider going to a store that has a layaway payment option. Layaway allows you to pay a percentage of the full purchase price and/or a service fee to put the item on hold. Then, you don’t have to worry about an in-demand item selling out before you can afford it.

Next, you pay for the product in full gradually over a pre-determined length of time. Once you do that, the item is yours to take home. Layaway could be a particularly handy possibility for you if you get paid on a regular schedule but cannot afford to pay for an item all at once.

Set Boundaries With the People in Your Life

People often spend more money than intended during the holidays because they try too hard to make everyone happy and get too concerned about what others think. If you often find yourself feeling run down while staring at a computer or ATM screen that shows a lower-than-anticipated bank account balance, perhaps it’s time to set better boundaries.

Doing that starts with becoming more self-aware and knowing what you need. For example, if staying on top of your finances is a goal for this holiday season, you could specifically say that you’re trying to keep costs down when people urge you to show up at an increasing number of social events.

Or, if someone wants a gift from you that you can’t afford, be honest about that right away. Simply say that the price is too expensive and is therefore outside of your budget.

If you don’t take care to explain that you’re being especially careful with your funds, people may get the wrong ideas and become offended because they think you don’t like them or are purposefully trying to stay isolated.

Consider Applying for a Short-Term Loan

During the holidays — as well as during other times of the year — you may feel that no matter what you do, you’ll never get ahead financially. During those tough times, getting a boost could help you finally overcome the stress of never having enough money for the things you need.

More specifically, a short-term loan could be a smart solution for emergency funding or to help your situation stabilize when you’re feeling swamped by bills. Don Gayhardt is the president and CEO of CURO Financial Technologies Corp., and he has years of experience helping underserved customers receive short-term loans with the help of innovative, technologically backed options.

If there is a short-term loan facility in your community, there’s a good chance Gayhardt’s company could be behind it. It’s important that you know not to feel ashamed about applying for a loan. Life can be hard, and loans help people in need break free from financial strain.

By using these tips, you should find it’s easier to experience greater financial freedom this holiday season. Then, you’ll be able to embrace the holiday spirit with the people most important to you.