Running Head: HOLIDAY 1

Ease Your Holiday Stress and Pockets

Tasia Pickett

JRN 412 Advanced Editorial &

Feature Writing

James Henry

December 19, 2016

Running Head: HOLIDAY 2

Ease Your Holiday Stress and Pockets By Tasia Pickett for The AU Champion, Dec. 19, 2016 Is it not the thought that counts? Not so for the millions of Americans who share

in the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping each season. Planning ahead and learning

how to stretch a dollar can help minimize holiday debt and stress.

Overspending, or spending more than expected, is also common during this

season. The holiday season is when many people tend to fall into the most debt. More

than one in four Americans plan to accumulate debt this year, spending $500 or more on

purchases. Millennials are expected to spend more on gifts this year. Nielsen reveals,

“The nation’s 75 million Millennials now outnumber Baby Boomers, with their buying

power this holiday season projected to total $85 billion – nearly 10 percent of the $1

trillion forecast to be spent overall” (Jones & Blumenthal, 2016).

Alongside these young consumers, many parents say they spend too much money

on gifts for their kids, with more than a third willing to dig into savings to pay for them

(Chew, 2015). Parents say that while they do not want their kids to be spoiled, they insist

on buying everything on the wish list.

In a “Spoiled-kid Confessions” survey, one parent describes her Christmas

experience: “I spent about $1000 on two kids and wasn’t working at the time. On

Christmas morning they opened them as fast as possible. They had at least 20 items

apiece, and they actually said, ‘Is that all?’ I was hurt and actually cried and cut back the

next year (some)” (Today, 2011). When parents introduce children to the holiday custom

of giving them everything they ask for, the kids expect it every year and parents feel

obligated to make it happen.

Running Head: HOLIDAY 3

Many parents struggle with the idea of over-indulging their kids without losing

the true meaning of the holiday. Family therapist, Susan Stiffelman (2012), asserts that

parents can still create a magical holiday without spending a lot of money. Establish

rituals for kids that make for a memorable experience. Decorate the house or do crafts

together. Teach children to save. “There’s no better way to help a child learn the value of

a dollar than to provide them with the chance to earn and budget for the things they

want.” Help kids understand the importance of giving, not just taking. Volunteer within

the community by serving at the soup kitchen, visiting patients at hospitals or delivering

toys to kids.

Just as Santa spends all year preparing for the big day, consumers should also do

the same. One way to combat holiday stress and minimize overspending is to plan ahead.

Dana Dratch of Bankrate.com, recommends deciding on how much to spend, make and

list and cut names and amounts if they can not fit into the budget. Do not feel compelled

to buy everyone a gift. Clark Howard, the co-author of the book Get Clark Smart: The

Ultimate Guide for the Savvy Consumer, says to set a limit, withdraw the cash from the

bank, “and when that’s gone, it’s over” (Dratch, 2014).

While women are more susceptible to stress, usually taking on the burden of

entertaining and shopping, both men and women feel the pressure of fulfilling family

expectations. In a survey of approximately 1,140, MagnifyMoney found that 69 percent

mentioned feeling financially stressed during this time of year (Woodruff &

MagnifyMoney, 2016). Other common holiday stressors include hosting holiday parties,

traveling and overspending.

Running Head: HOLIDAY 4

During the festive season, people tend to cope with stress by engaging in

excessive eating, drinking, and sleeping. Understanding how to manage time can

significantly reduce stress and learning how to handle stress can make for a better holiday

experience. Anticipating the frustrations associated with the holiday can actually make it

a bit easier to deal with anxiety.

The American Psychological Association points out that additional responsibility

alongside an already busy schedule can have long-term effects on an individual’s mind

and body. “The holidays can be a hectic time for many, and a lack of money, a lack of

time and the hype and commercialism of the season causes increased stressed for people

in this country” (Berktold & Greenberg, 2006, p 1).

The organization advises making time for yourself to combat some of these

stressors. Stay healthy by exercising and be sure to stick with a well-balanced diet. Sweet

potatoes, pistachios, oatmeal and citrus fruits can help improve stress levels and curb

appetites (Bannan, 2016). Have realistic expectations and remember that the holidays are

not all about store-bought gifts, but about spending quality time with loved ones.

Instead of spending money on expensive presents, get creative. Pintrest.com

offers a ton of ideas to help people stay within their Christmas budget. Baked goods like

cookies, cakes and pies are easy to make and always serve as a sweet and inexpensive

gift. Making things such as homemade candles, body scrubs, cards and ornaments are

unique and present the chance to be creative.

Consider breaking some bad and expensive habits. Quit smoking, limit how much

you eat out and get rid of items that are not being used (Alderman, 2015). Choose

meaningful gifts. Buying generic instead of name brand products can save consumers 25

Running Head: HOLIDAY 5

to 30 percent (Cerny, 2016). Compare costs and avoid paying full price for anything.

Take advantage of the clearance areas and price matching. Always use coupons when

available. Shop consignment and second-hand stores. Shopping out of season is also an

excellent way to stay on target with your holiday budget and to not have to worry about

getting last minute deals.

Remember quality, not quantity. A card or a small token of appreciation goes a

long way. Making homemade dishes or gifts are cost effective, provides the opportunity

to get creative with the kids, and is a great stress reliever.

Sometimes, it is the thought that counts. Whether celebrating Christmas, Hanukah

or Kwanza, many people often forget about the true meaning of the holiday season.

Spending time with family, giving back to those less fortunate, and being grateful for the

people and things around us are reasons for the season.

Learninghowtohandlestresscanmakeforabetterholidayexperience.www.cnbc.com,2015

Running Head: HOLIDAY 6

References

Alderman, J. (2015, Feb 2). 10 Ways to Cut Your Holiday Expenses. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-alderman/10-ways-to- cut-your-holid_b_6262928.html

Bannan, P. (2016, Dec 10). Foods to combat holiday stress. Fox News. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/12/10/foods-to-combat-holiday-stress.html

Berktold, J. & Greenberg, A. (2006). Holiday Stress. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2006/12/holiday-stress.pdf Cerny, D. (2016, Nov 21). 52 ways to trim your holiday budget. Today’s Parent. Retrieved from http://www.todaysparent.com/family/family-budget/ways-to-trim- your-holiday-budget/ Chew, J. (2015, Nov 13). Most Parents Say They Overspend on Holiday Gifts for Their Kids. Fortune. Retrieved from http://fortune.com/2015/11/13/holiday-spending- kids/ Dratch, D. (2014, Oct 3). 14 ways to save money during the holidays. Bankrate. Retrieved from http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/ways-to-save- during-holidays-1.aspx

Jones, C. & Blumenthal, E. (2016, Dec 9). Millennials demand more from holiday shopping. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2016/12/09/millennials-demand- more-holiday-shopping/95055602/ Stiffelman, S. (2013, Feb 3). Do We Need to Spend So Much on Kids to Create Holiday Magic? The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-stiffelman/holiday-budget_b_2238219.html Today. (2011, Dec 12). Yes, we spoil our kids: 6,000 moms come clean. Retrieved from http://www.today.com/parents/yes-we-spoil-our-kids-6-000-moms- come- clean-t75131 Woodruff, M. & MagnifyMoney. (2016, Nov 22). 1 in 4 Americans will go into debt this holiday season, survey shows. KHOU. Retrieved from http://www.khou.com/money/magnify-money/1-in-4-americans-will-go- into- debt-this-holiday-season-survey-shows/355104851