EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The holiday season is a time when service members and their families incur added expenses. It is also a time when even the most frugal individual can overspend.
Eglin’s Military and Family Readiness Center encourages base personnel to plan for added holiday expenses and offers strategies for holiday budgeting and avoiding excessive debt.
“We provide tips and strategies for practical holiday spending and managing expenses wisely, while enjoying a joyful and memorable holiday,” said Carla Tyson, MFRC community readiness specialist.
From setting a budget to finding creative gift ideas and planning affordable celebrations, the MFRC guides eligible patrons through the process of achieving a financially stress-free holiday season.
Tips include:
- Develop a holiday spending plan - Learn how to establish a holiday budget that aligns with your financial goals, taking into account expenses such as gifts, decorations, travel and entertainment.
- Plan ahead - Planning is the key to financial success. Make a list of expenses, examine holiday priorities, set a spending limit, and track expenses.
- Smart shopping strategies - Discover techniques for finding the best deals, comparing prices, and making informed purchasing decisions to maximize savings without compromising quality. Look for coupons, promotions, shopping codes, and rebates, all of which can reduce prices even more than the advertised sales. The internet has many coupon sites that provide information on the current promotions and discounts for most national retail stores. Many stores will allow online purchasing and may offer free shipping as a purchase incentive. Otherwise, shop online and then pick up items at the store, which saves shipping costs and shopping time.
- Creative gift ideas - Explore innovative and budget-friendly gift-giving options that emphasize thoughtfulness and personalization, ensuring presents leave a lasting impression.
- Do it yourself decorations and festive entertaining - Uncover the secrets of crafting holiday decorations and hosting memorable celebrations on a budget.
- Stress-free money management - Acquire practical tips for managing finances during the holiday season, including techniques to avoid debt, track expenses and prioritize savings.
- Post-holiday financial recovery - Learn how to recover from holiday spending and start the new year on a solid financial footing, with strategies for debt repayment, budget adjustments, and long-term planning.
For more information, visit https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/financial-counseling/.