Vitae Chat Pūrongo December 2020 Christmas: A time to survive or enjoy? KEY POINTS:
Determine your response
Plan carefully
Make a financial plan
Consider Wellbeing Strategies
Know how to access Vitae counselling
Christmas 2020 is fast approaching! Children are beginning to anticipate their gifts from Santa and adults are looking forward to a much-deserved break to connect with family and friends, especially when this year has been do so difficult. Daylight saving gives us extra hours to enjoy the BBQ and relaxing as we share connectedness, food indulgences and gifts given and received. Amongst the laughter and excitement, for some sadness, sorrow and fear can arise, triggered by stressors such as financial burdens, job insecurity, family and relationship issues or not being able to connect with family or travel like you might have hoped. Our thoughts and attitudes decide how we respond to stressors and when these are negative or out of balance, everything else is too; our wellbeing and that of the people close to us. It’s called the ripple effect and can have a wide impact. So what are the things we can do to feel empowered at Christmas time to take control to bring stability and harmony back into our lives and optimise our wellbeing?
Lean on your support network
Practice gratitude daily
Budget
Take time out for you
Engage in daily mindfulness
Practice the 5 ways to wellbeing
MAKE A BUDGET – 10 Top Tips for financial sanity If finances are a huge stressor for you, a great way to determine your income and spending ratio is with a
budget spreadsheet. Knowing what bills are due, what
presents you need to buy, and what your expenses are at this time of year can help you to prioritise where your money needs to be spent. Pay your essential bills – rent/mortgage, power, phone etc. before your Christmas goods. Check your bank statement to see what you spent over Christmas last year. Beware of Christmas hampers and offers Decide before going shopping how much you have available to cover Christmas needs. Having a written plan helps keep you to your limit. Sales and specials pop up regularly; make use of them and avoid leaving gift-buying until the last minute which can lead to panic and overspending Think about your income – remember that your holiday pay or advance benefit payments have to stretch over a time of year when spending is high. Discuss gift buying/giving with your family. You might decide to give one special present to each or perhaps only to the children. Set maximum amounts. Home-made gifts – everyone loves your special Russian caramel! And the grandparents would much prefer a special piece of children’s art to another pair of socks! Vouchers are a great way to give an experience to be shared later – letting a child choose a favourite meal, make a date for a summer picnic Don’t forget to teach the children about the value of giving vouchers – clean the car, bring the parents breakfast in bed … be creative! If you are hosting Christmas dinner, ask others to bring a plate or something to drink. Share the work and cost load Remember the expense that will come in January and the back-to-school cost that have to be covered. (Thanks to Money Talks)