Tips for the Holidays | Gifts | Food | Love

"I also realized that the best gift I could ever give is love and support. They are invaluable..."

- Redessa Shaw

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...sales in every store, many lists on your phone, and many more chores left undone! As working women, we must balance during the busy holiday season. The in-laws are in town, the kids are begging for the next thing, and there's so much to attend to. While remembering what this season is all about, here are a few Holiday Tips given by members of EXcelevating Inc.

Budgeting and Planning

“Set a budget!”

Are you making a list this Year? Are you checking it twice? Are you making sure you don't have someone on there twice? LaSandra Collins recommends creating a budget before shopping. "Set a budget. I normally allocate a set amount of dollars for each person on my list." We agree with you, LaSandra! Write down everyone you plan to give gifts to—from your nearest and dearest to your in-laws and the mail carrier. Then put a dollar figure next to each name. Setting price limits help you keep your holiday budget on track.

Don't Wait Until Last Minute!

“Do your homework and start early!”

We know it's already December, but Conor Hall suggests starting in August. "Do your homework and start early! I suggest starting to research and make holiday purchases in August or September." We may think that's early, but if you think about it, the time will fly by before you know it! "Come up with a budget for what you want to spend and give yourself ample time to pay for it, so it's not all shock." In addition, putting money aside for big-ticket items can prevent you from depleting your accounts or going into debt during the holidays.

Prepping for Everything!

“Avoid last-minute shopping...”

We all plan to continue to eat well for the holidays. With our busy schedules, it helps to prepare your food ahead of time to avoid burnout! Nkem Anyasinti recommends "prepping meals ahead of time to avoid last-minute shopping for food." We've all had the moment of going to the store last minute... who wants to wait in those lines? Not I! One of the surest ways to overspend is to wait until the last minute and buy all your gifts in a rush. Not only are you more likely to overspend, but it also makes an already stressful time of the Year even more so.

The Reason for the Season!

“...the holidays come and go, but we must live daily....”

Aside from the spending and long nights, we know that this is the time to saturate all the moments with our loved ones! Christmas brings joy to so many and sadness to some. Let's remember to put our love for others first. Redessa Shaw is in the spirit, "Christmas is my ABSOLUTE favorite holiday. It happens to be my birthday too. Years ago, I realized that the holidays come and go, but we must live daily. I also realized that the best gift I could ever give is love and support. They are invaluable." LOVE is the best gift you can ever receive. With that, don't forget to tell your loved ones how much you love them.

REST!

“...spend time with family and saying I love you....”

At the end of the day, what do we do? REST. Restful moments during the holidays are critical. Try going without them and see where it takes you physically and mentally. "With the holidays approaching, these are a few tips for saving money to spend time with family and saying I love you, sharing a homemade meal, making something authentic for an individual they will treasure, or simply staying home and Rest!" Thank you, Vanessa Hawkins, for this timely reminder. We challenge you to rest this season as much as possible, knowing God has it all figured out!

Merry Christmas, everyone!