“Downsize holiday spending, not your holiday joy.” — Mari Adam

Trim ChristmasBeing stretched for time and money multiplies the stress level that many feel during the holiday season. Allison offered several tips a few weeks back. Here are some others in anticipation of the upcoming weeks.

Dani Arthur at Bankrate.com provides this insight, “The holiday season is an all-out assault on your senses. The music, decorations, lights and the delicious seasonal smells assail your sensibilities on every street and in every store. The pace is frantic, the mood is manic, and the atmosphere is, well, different. The holidays are so set apart from the norm that people are tempted to break out of their norm — for just the season.”

Arthur interviewed Ruth Hayden, the author of Your Money Life and Hayden said, “It’s seduction. Consumers are seduced into buying. To be seduced means that you’re crossing boundaries that you’ve set. You’re tempted to buy because you want to belong. You’re tempted to buy because you want to create love.”

So if you have to buy and most of us do… then Arthur advises that we should maximize our spending power. You can check out the details of this list below by clicking here:

1. Make a spending plan
2. Know your limits
3. Track your spending
4. Shop with a list
5. Shop early
6. Be an educated consumer
7. Load up your wallet with cash
8. Use credit judiciously
9. Beware of sales pitches

Paula challenged readers with #7 the other day… but here’s additional advice from Arthur about using cash this season: “Leave your credit cards at home. People spend up to a third more when paying with credit instead of cash. There is no emotional attachment to plastic like there is to cash.”

“But, if you must use plastic, Myvesta.org suggests that you deduct all your purchases in your checkbook register. That way, when the bill arrives, the money will be in your checking account to pay the bill in full.”

Also don’t forget, as Kiplinger’s suggest that, “Gift-giving may be the focus of the season, but it comprises only 37% of the average holiday budget. Don’t overlook the expense of travel, entertainment, decorations, shipping, greeting cards and postage.” All these items add up and can create havoc on December expenditures.

Finally, all the money in the world can’t buy us more time. Simma Lieberman writes that a lack of time is a major Holiday Stress Hotspot. Here are four tips to help curb the tick tock pressure:

1. Complete your gift shopping early. This will relieve you of one of the biggest time stresses during the holidays.
2. Refuse Invitations. You don’t have to go to every party just because you’re invited. If party going becomes a chore or exhausting, step back and slow down the pace.
3. Take time for yourself. With so much emphasis on time with family and friends, many people feel guilty taking time for themselves. Take it. When you consciously plan to have alone time, it keeps you empowered and reduces possible feelings of melancholy during the holiday season. You will also be less overwhelmed by external stimuli.
4. Share the tasks. Don’t take on too much. View your to-do list as an opportunity to spend time with people. Share responsibilities and your tasks will take half as long and be more enjoyable.

The holiday season is upon us. Pace yourself and enjoy.