Here we are, it is the end of the third quarter and guess what is right around the corner? Yep, the holidays and all the stress and last-minute shopping that comes with it. Well, this is a great time to get ahead of the game and do a little holiday preparedness to make it a little less chaotic. Here are a few things to check off your "to do list" right now...
- Set a Holiday Budget - Estimate how much you want to spend on gifts, travel, decorations, food and entertainment.
- Start a Holiday Fund - If you didn't heed my advice last year, consider starting a separate online banking account and contributing a small amount monthly or weekly for next year.
- Declutter - Just like you, people are looking for Christmas gift ideas. Maybe it's a great time to see some of that junk in your garage. After all, one man's junk is another man's treasure. That could give you a little extra spending cash this season.
- Track deals and shop early - Check out Amazon Prime Day or early Black Friday to pick up some great discounts.
I hope this year brings lots of joy and very little stress. But getting ahead of the season will certainly help to smooth things out. Happy early holiday!