Break it Down Further Once you have your general list of expense categories, break each list into pieces. Supply a line for each individual expense. Yes, it can be time consuming, but with a detailed and accurate list, you’re less likely to overspend or lose track of where the money is going, so some time spent in planning your intentions will save money. For travel costs, run the numbers. If you’ve already paid for tickets, they aren’t included in the budget. However, if you paid for them on the credit card, they aren’t really paid for yet. Rental Car Tips: Rent a car as early as possible, then watch the prices. Using the internet, it’s easy to find rates and make a reservation without a credit card. The earlier you reserve the car, the better the Moving on to the home upgrade budget, you may only have one or two items. On the other hand, if you’re in the middle of remodeling the downstairs, you may have a laundry list of materials to account for before your company arrives. Remember it’s your standards here. Nobody says the space has to be perfect, especially if it tanks the budget to make it happen. Make the space welcoming and thoughtful with small gestures like a welcome note on the guest bed or a vase with fresh winter herbs in the bathroom. Your guests will forgive (and may not even notice) any so-called imperfections. Since food and gifts seem to eat up the majority of most people’s unexpected budget items, we’ll outline some pointers to stay within budget here, too. chances of finding a good rate. You can use an aggregated site to see pricing from a variety of vendors, and then go to the individual rental company to confirm that you’ve found the best deal. You can actually reserve several cars at the same time since there’s no penalty for canceling. Take advantage of this by checking rates frequently; they can change daily. If you find a lower rate, reserve it and then cancel your other reservation. You can save a substantial amount using this technique (as long as you remember to cancel any unnecessary reservations!).
The Food Budget Inflation is here, and it’s no more evident than at the grocery store. Think outside the box to stay within budget for the holiday meal. Popular foods will often be on sale as the holiday approaches so be sure to look up the store ad and keep an eye on the deals. There may be a free turkey with a $100 purchase or a $5 off $25 purchase coupon, for example. Similarly, boxes of stuffing, cranberries, gravy mix, rolls, matzah, and other staples will be on sale, too. The best way to save money on the grocery list, however, is to make your own food from scratch. It takes longer, but it will be healthier, less expensive, and better tasting. Plus, it’s a great way to bring the family together in the kitchen. Don’t try to do it alone. Maybe baking bread comes naturally to you, but you prefer not to bake pies. Ask someone else to bring them instead. Making the event a potluck significantly lowers the cost of the meal and introduces a variety of food options to the table. If you enjoy tackling the entire meal yourself as a gift to your loved ones, go for it. But if you feel obligated, shift the tide. Make it more fun with more hands in the kitchen, and open yourself up to new experiences that may vary a bit from your idea of traditional foods. Be Intentional When It Comes to Gift Giving Gift giving has become an expected part of holiday celebrations. While you may hold steady in buying your mom a gift each year, there’s no real guideline here. Many of us find ourselves wondering about whether to get a gift for the housekeeper or your cousin that will be visiting but you haven’t seen in years. What about co-workers or friends?
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December 2022
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