Making Budget Adjustments for Seasonal Events

A Penny Wise, Pound Foolish guide to surviving the holidays. Penny Wise knows the best time of year can also be the worst for you budget. You have to plan carefully to avoid holiday debt. Only the Pound Foolish think it’s pointless to plan. Follow these 7 tips to survive the holidays with less stress and debt. First, make a budget and stick to it. Pound Foolish shops without a budget and ends up spending way too much. But Penny Wise budgets for everything from gifts to family meals. And once the budget is set, don’t deviate. Penny Wise also knows you shouldn’t buy gifts for everyone. Pound Foolish buys individual gifts for everyone and way too many gifts for family members. Coaches, teachers, neighbors, bosses, coworkers… it never ends. Penny Wise makes a list of everyone they need to buy for and then prioritizes it. They set spending limits for family gifts and do things like gift swaps for adults. Then they make what they can for everyone else. Penny Wise also gets the whole family involved, making gift baskets or baked goods. Or they grow potted plants and let the little ones decorate the pots. Just don’t be Pound Foolish and start too late or you won’t have time for mistakes. And Penny Wise makes sure to have extras on hand for last minute gifts. Penny Wise also likes to play Secret Santa. So they shovel snow or rake leaves for a neighbor without them knowing and they do family member’s chores when they’re out of the house. They can also leave gifts on doorsteps. Because only Pound Foolish thinks the value of a gift is measured by the price tag. Penny Wise also creates personal gift certificates, offering good deeds that celebrate the spirit of the season. You can offer freebies like car washes or babysitting services, or coupons for fun outings that can be redeemed later. So while Pound Foolish is still paying off the debt from last holiday season, Penny Wise is cashing in and enjoying more great times with the family. You should also focus on experiences. While Pound Foolish is stressing out on a mad-dash shopping binge, Penny Wise is making new traditions with the family, like skating trips and bonfires, and volunteering together to help those in need. Finally, Penny Wise never forgets what’s really important. Pound Foolish gets pulled in by ads that say you need diamonds and cars to express your love. While Penny Wise creates a blessing jar that the family fills with things they are thankful for. Then together they read the notes and celebrate the joys of the past year. So remember the spirit of the season and celebrate this year without debt. And if you overspend, Consolidated Credit will be here to help soften the landing.

Narrator: Back to school budgeting tips
Narrator: The back to school shopping season is the second most expensive time of year after the winter holidays.
[On-screen text] Total spending in billions: Back to School is $82.8 billion
Narrator: The average family with children from Kindergarten to 12th grade will spend almost $685 this year.
[On-screen text] K-12 Average spending = $684.79
Narrator: While the average college student can expect to spend around $950 to go back to school, which is down from last year
[On-screen text] Back to College Average Spending = $942.17
Narrator: College students will do most of their shopping online and at department stores.
[On-screen text] Top places where college students will shop: 49% online, 40% department store
Narrator: While more than half of families with children in Kindergarten through 12th grade still plan to shop at department stores.
[On-screen text] Top places where K-12 families will shop: 57% dept. store, 55% online store
Narrator: Back to school shoppers plan to spend the most on clothing, with electronics in second place, while the opposite is true for college students.
[On-screen text] What will you spend the most on? $236.90 clothing, $229.21 electronics
Narrator: Don’t leave it to the last minute! It will only increase your stress and overburden your budget.
[On-screen text] Most back-to-school shoppers (77%) start the last 3 weeks
Narrator: The P-R-P-R method helps to create a strategic plan of attack for shopping on a budget.
[On-screen text] Use the PRPR method for strategic shopping!
Narrator: Create a shopping plan that includes the items you need to buy with the best driving routes. That way, you’ll save time.
[On-screen text] PLAN: Create a list of items and routes. Be sure to factor in BULK SHOPPING AND THE BEST DEALS!
Narrator: Research tax-free holidays in your state and remember to subscribe to the retailer’s newsletter and social media accounts for deal updates.
[On-screen text] RESEARCH: Look into tax-free holidays! Subscribe to retailers for deals and remember to comparison shop.
Narrator: Prioritize what’s essential now and which items can wait for later.
[On-screen text] PRIORITIZE: Assess what’s necessary now plus the quantity, and which items can be purchased later.
Narrator: Explain to your kids that you can’t buy everything they want. Maybe one item now OR they can earn the money by doing chores.
[On-screen text] REALISM: Include your kids in the budgeting process. Must-have items can be bought in exchange for chores!
Narrator: For more tips on how to shop smart for back to school, visit ConsolidatedCredit.org