Centsible Christmas: 6 Ways to Eliminate Stress

A ₵entsible Christmas is not only about saving money. It’s about making the season count. It’s about spending less, giving more, building memories and focusing on the ONE that we celebrate.

Can you feel it it rising?  The stress.  The mild panic that creeps in your spirit when you realize there are only 2 weeks left until Christmas.  We insist it will not get to this point. Yet, the same song and dance continues every year.  Let’s stop the cycle.  Stress should not be an inevitable part of the Christmas season. 

Believe it or not, there are a few ways that you can easily decrease your stress starting today.

1. Make a plan.  If you haven’t already, brainstorm a list of ideas of what you would like to do before Christmas.   Now, look at your calendar. What is realistic?  How much can you actually accomplish in the next 2 weeks?  Prioritize then let the rest go.  Breathe deep.  The world will continue to spin.

Photo source: vhansen via sxc.hu

2. Focus on your strengths.   Let’s be honest.  We all aren’t Martha Stewart. Some of us hate decorating.  Some of us hate baking.  Stick with what you enjoy and what comes naturally to you.  If  cookie baking is not your thing, then buy pre-made dough. Seriously.  You can do that.  The kids will still have fun decorating sugar cookies from a tube.  Love to decorate? Then go all out and feel good about it while your store bought dough bakes.

3. Eliminate the unnecessary.  Just because others “do it”, doesn’t mean you need to.  You don’t have to string your house in lights.  You don’t have to create gingerbread houses from scratch.  You don’t have to create amazing crafts with your kids.  You don’t even have to send Christmas cards. Go ahead.  Breathe.

Photo source: fangol via sxc.hu 

4. Stick to your budget.  Nothing will stress you out more than money woes and worries.  What can you afford?  Accept it and move on.  Plan your gift giving around it.  If you barely have 2 pennies to rub together this season, here are some wonderful ways to deal with that reality.

5. Decrease gift giving.  Decrease the amount of gifts you buy for your kids.  We have chosen to buy 3 for each child.  Also, think about if you really need to buy a gift for Aunt Bertha’s neighbor.  There is nothing wrong with Aunt Bertha’s neighbor, but if your budget doesn’t allow it, you need to let it go.

Photo source: BeverlyLR via sxc.hu

6. Simplify. For me, the easiest way to eliminate stress is to focus on what can be done between the 4 walls of my home.  We can serve others by baking cookies together as a family.  We can create memories together with out going to the theater for the latest Christmas spectacular.

The reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ.  It is not called “Stressmas” .  “Letting it go” and simplifying is one of the best ways we can focus on the celebration of the season.

 

If you missed other posts in my ₵entsible Christmas series, feel free to check them out here:

• A ₵entsible Christmas
• A ₵entsible Christmas : Jesse Tree
• A ₵entsible Christmas : Making a Plan
• A ₵entsible Christmas :Simplifying Gifts
• A ₵entsible Christmas :5 Simple DIY Nativity Crafts

 

Linking to Frugal Friday