The celebration of Christ’s arrival on earth is the perfect season to develop meaningful Advent traditions that help you and your family remember and rejoice that God is with us.
Unfortunately, good intentions during the Advent season are often left unrealized. There are parties to attend, family members to visit, and presents to wrap. The Christmas season is a busy season. Carving out family Advent traditions can be easily forgotten.
To make sure that this is the year you start your Advent traditions, you need to budget yourself, not just your money.
1. Budget your time. If you don’t block off specific times for you and your family, the time will be filled by something else. Another run to the store will be needed. Yet another run of A Christmas Story will air. Make a calendar of what you would like accomplished this Advent season. So budget your time.
2. Budget your energy. With all the hustle and bustle, you will likely find yourself physically and mentally exhausted at the end of the day. Your desire to engage in an Advent-centered moment will be low, and you will be tempted to forgo it for a warm drink and a fireplace. To combat this, identify times during the day when energy levels are higher. Don’t sleepwalk through the time you spend with your family. So budget your energy.
3. Budget your money. And not just for the traditions you desire to create. You can start an Advent tradition without spending much money. We have three young boys in our house, and so we pick out a children’s Advent book to read each night. Follow a budget for the entire Christmas season. Losing control of your finances can create stress in the house. Don’t make your children’s December memories be their dad and mom’s money arguments. Make their memories be centered around thecelebration of Christ’s arrival on earth. So budget your money.
Develop and sustain Advent traditions through budgeting. Budget your time, energy, and money. This year, turn intentions into traditions.