ON THE MONEY Holiday Tips

BY JENNY HOFF

There are many reasons to celebrate this month. The 3. Creative, Budget-Conscious Gift Ideas holidays are here, but so is the end of a year that has If you’re shopping for small kids, there is no reason you need to pay top caused health anxiety, financial distress and a global dollar to buy new toys. Staying at home has given people ample time to economic shutdown. Bring on 2021! clear out their toy closets, and you can find some great deals on gently

While there is no way to know how the pandemic used (and sometimes new) toys on places like Facebook Marketplace, the will play out or when the economy will rev up again, Nextdoor app and in local resale shops. Join your local “buy nothing” one thing you can do to start off 2021 on the right foot Facebook group, where you can both request and offer up items that will is to avoid high credit card bills arriving in January. make for great gifts, without so much as a dollar exchanging hands. For That doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate; it just means items you need to purchase, most sellers nowadays are set up to take virtual you might want to get creative when showing your payments over Venmo or PayPal and are happy to leave items on the front festive spirit. porch to avoid person-to-person contact. 1. Budget First, Spend Later a cocktail lover in the family, consider making cocktail mixes in mason jars The most important step to that can be mixed with their favorite liquor for a refreshment celebrating the season is making a budget and sticking to it. This should include how much you plan “” at home. Or create cookie mixes in mason jars so those with a sweet tooth can enjoy a treat with just a few added ingredients. If it’s been an especially hard year financially, to spend on food, drinks, gifts and Put personality avoid spending any money and offer a virtual lesson on a skill decor. If you don’t trust that you will you have to someone you love. Whether you enjoy cooking, log every purchase to know if you’ve hit your limit, then either consider over price. playing piano, painting, knitting or writing, find something you can share with a loved one in a fun one-on-one class, downloading a budgeting app like either in person or virtually. Mint, YNAB or EveryDollar that will track it for you, For adult gifts, this is the time to put personality over price. If you have or put the amount you’ve calculated on a gift card to 4. Saving on Food and Decorations use when making all holiday and seasonal purchases. If there is one time you can get away with DIY decorations and casual Give yourself a hard rule to not reload it. food, it’s 2020, so take advantage of it. Search the web for creative ways to decorate using items you already have and make it an old-fashioned 2. Make Your List and Check It Twice holiday celebration with basic dishes and simple ingredients. If family The best way to avoid going broke is to avoid impulse is coming over, plan out what you need and assign each person a dish or buys on “doorbuster” sales. Instead, make a detailed drink to bring so you only need to cook one thing yourself. To go really list of what gifts or items you need to buy and don’t budget-friendly, suggest a virtual holiday celebration with family and avoid deviate from it. cooking altogether. This is the year anything goes!

The holidays look different this year. Whether you’re staying home or driving to visit family, there are some things to keep in mind when hitting the road. As an update to my list from last year, here are seven tips for driving this holiday season.

Anytime you’re planning a trip, it’s important to make sure your vehicle is ready ahead of time. Always check that your tires are properly inflated and that the tread is still good. Also make sure all lights, wiper blades, fluid levels, etc. are in good working order.

We are all trying to be cautious when it comes to spreading germs. So this season is a great time to get your vehicle detailed and deep cleaned before heading to visit family. Check out my article from April for tips on keeping your vehicle germ free!

Remember to be courteous and share the road safely. Watch out for other people on the road, especially motorcycles, cyclists and pedestrians. Drive the speed limit and use your blinker to indicate when you’re turning or changing lanes. And always remember to buckle up!

The holidays are one of the busiest times of the year on the road. If you’re able to leave earlier and avoid peak travel time, you should. Fewer cars on the road equal less traffic and the chances of an accident.

Be mindful when packing your car. Overloading it with presents, food, etc. can obstruct your view of the road and increase your chances of an accident. Did you know overloading your car also affects fuel efficiency? For every additional 100 pounds in your car, your gas mileage can drop by 2%.

While we don’t get icy weather too often in Austin, it’s important to be prepared just in case. Before heading out, check the weather and road conditions so you can try to be aware of anything unexpected ahead of time.

For your safety and the safety of others, never drink and drive, it’s not worth the risk. Period. Plan a sober driver ahead of time or call a taxi/Uber/Lyft.

From all of us at Roger Beasley Mazda, we wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season! For any car needs, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 866.779.8409.