How to Share the Love without the Debt

Written by Ellie Kay

This article is courtesy of HomeLife.

I once watched an overindulged 4-year-old boy open so many Christmas presents that he finally stood up among the remaining 20 packages and declared, “I’m tired of this. I’m going outside to play.”

I vowed that when I had children of my own, my husband, Bob, and I would stress the real meaning of the holiday and never let our kids think Christmas was about them.

Although it’s been challenging, we’ve tried to keep that focus, knowing that an out-of-focus family will not only miss God, but will charge enough at Christmas to stay in debt until the following May.

Yes, Virginia, there is a better way for families to enjoy the tidings of the holidays without breaking their budget. Here are a few practical tips to help.

Pray for Provision
The frenetic holiday pace doesn’t facilitate an atmosphere of prayer, much less encourage us to seek God’s provision when budgeting for holiday gifts. But when we do ask for His guidance, it’s amazing how God delights in providing just what we need when we need it.

Last year, our kids wanted a Playstation® for Christmas, but Bob and I were determined not to go over budget with this gift, so we prayed for God to provide. Sure enough, the day after Thanksgiving, an early-bird sale offered this name-brand game system for half of the suggested retail price.

When it comes to gift giving this holiday, keep in mind these benefits of prayer: Our faith is increased as God answers specific prayer, and our children watch and learn to trust God’s provision. Plus, we experience the financial freedom of staying within budget.

Important distinction: Be sure to emphasize God as the gracious Provider who cares to hear even our detailed requests, not as the genie who grants all wishes.

Limit Gifts
Bob and I had five babies in the first seven years of marriage and moved 11 times in 13 years. During that time, we decided to model our holiday giving after the gifts brought to the Christ child. We couldn’t afford gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but we could limit our gifts to three simple, yet nice presents for each of our children.

Even though God has blessed us financially in recent years, we still hold to this Kay family tradition. Much to our surprise, we’ve found additional benefits from this gift-giving standard:
• The children know to consider which gifts they really want, rather than listing everything from the last commercial break.
• All holiday gifts are paid for in December, rather than the following May.
• It simplifies holiday stress — no more shopping after the gift quota is met. Period.
• Less hustle and bustle keeps the focus on Christ.

Have a Plan
By purchasing gifts early, you can stretch your holiday budget over more than one month. Here are three tips to keep in mind when you shop (and one for after the holiday rush):

Shop with cash. Set aside a specific “cash” allowance — don’t use credit cards unless you will pay them off at the month’s end.

Strategize. Check sale circulars. Decide which gifts you’ll purchase and match them with sale ads. Make note of any special limitations, such as “price only effective for three hours,” “limit two scooters per person,” and so on; then prioritize your shopping schedule accordingly.

Split it. Follow the old divide-and-conquer rule by going with a friend or your spouse. You can grab bargains in one area of the store while your partner snags values in another. One year, Bob grabbed the half-priced scooters and the $3 backpacks, while I picked up DVDs and electronic games. We had all our shopping done by 7 a.m. and spent only $200.

Stick to your list. You may be tempted to keep buying after you’ve conquered your list. (Marketers are geniuses at placing irresistible bargains in eye-catching places.) But remember: You can go broke saving money.

When your children are grown, they’ll forget most of their gifts from throughout the years. But they will always remember the traditions of Christmas and the emphasis in your home during the season. Don’t let financial stressors be the running theme in their memories. It’s not too late to establish a holiday budget and keep the focus on the gift of God’s Son.

Ellie Kay is a best-selling author, speaker, media personality and spokesperson.

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