Greenville, SC – Article by Megan Heidlberg, WSPA.com
The holidays are the most wonderful time of year, but it's no surprise that this season can do a real number on your wallet. Don't let the stress of spending steal your holiday cheer. Chelsea Newton of Spero Financial has some great out of the box tips for saving money during the holiday season.
- Seek out FREE activities for the kids – the Upstate has a ton of options to keep your family entertained while not spending a dollar! Ideas include: Christmas parades, free pictures with Santa (Bass Pro and Chick-fil-A offer these), holiday movie nights at home, free Christmas Tree Festival and Gingerbread Houses in Downtown Greenville, drive around neighborhoods for Christmas lights, and so much more! You can find ideas like these by following Spero Financial on social media. They are also hosting free letters to Santa at their Spero branches now – December 20! So stop by with the kiddos and get a sweet treat as well.
- Save money on holiday meals. We just had Thanksgiving, so consider for Christmas, skipping the traditional meal! Your wallet will thank you. Instead, consider a casserole or soup that can stretch your dollar farther and still be just as yummy. If it is a big family meal or even inviting friends over for a holiday party, consider sharing the love by each person either contributing to the price of the meal or each bringing a different component of the meal. Many got away from this after COVID but good old fashion potlucks are trending again, because they are practical and save money!
- Save money on Christmas gifts. When we think of a gift, we think of a tangible item, but what if we gave “experiences” instead? One of Spero’s favorite out-of-the-box gift ideas for the kiddos is a coupon book. The coupon book is filled with experiences for your kiddos to redeem throughout the entire year. Coupons can include things like a movie night at-home, a night at the movie theater, a day at the park, ice cream night, family game night, pick your favorite restaurant, mom cleans my room, and so much more!
You can also do a present exchange versus buying a gift for every person – which can add up really fast. Check out the app Elfster to help coordinate the exchange.
For individuals in their 20s and 30s, many are skipping the gift exchanges altogether and hosting a holiday party instead! A theme is selected, and each person brings a food/drink item to enjoy. Again, it’s about the experience and time spent together! · - More money saving tip ideas: The best money saving tip of all is making a plan and sticking to it! The first step is determining how much you can spend for the holidays – including gifts, food, travel expenses, etc. Then create a list of all the items and allocate a dollar amount to each. Next, stick with the list! Companies have gotten really good with their marketing to entice you to buy. Be strong! That way you can have peace of mind going into the New Year that your finances are healthy!
About Spero Financial
Spero Financial Federal Credit Union was chartered in 1935 as a not-for-profit financial cooperative with one mission: to improve financial lives. As one of the Palmetto State’s largest credit unions, today, it has more than 50,000 members and $705 million in assets. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, the credit union’s footprint spans the Upstate and Midlands with branches in Anderson, Easley, Greenville, Simpsonville, Spartanburg, Taylors, and Columbia. More at spero.financial
