With the most wonderful time of the year right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how to be intentional with our time, money, and energy! All of these things are very valuable and should not be forgotten about. 

Our time is extremely valuable and something only we can give to others. Shopping for gifts and putting together experiences this holiday season can be something that we are not always intentional about. At times it feels a lot easier to go through the motions and check people off the list just to get them off the list. When we say this we mean it’s a lot easier to run into your local store and pick up a few gifts for different people just so you don’t have to worry about it anymore. It feels like it saves us a lot of time and energy, however, this is not always the case. When it comes down to it, the way that we spend our money directly correlates to how we spend our time and our energy. Picking up a gift just to pick up a gift is not the best way to utilize our money. 

When we take the time to find gifts that are from local family-owned shops, we’re not only putting our money to good use, but we are supporting someone’s passions. The Ma and Pa store in your local town has probably taken quite the hit during this global pandemic. By taking the time to go into their store or shop online, you’re supporting their passions and their dreams. By shopping locally, you’re helping with sustainable living, and more often than not picking a gift that was locally sourced, ethically made, and will last a lifetime.  We work hard for our money, and we expect our money to go the distance. At the end of the day, we are purchasing a gift for a family member or friend because we care about them and want to bring joy to their life. Nothing seems to be more tragic than when you buy a gift that does not last. Take the time to think, is this the best way to spend my money on this person? How long will this really last? Who can I support with this purchase? 

During this holiday season, it’s extremely important to take time for ourselves. If you’re spending days shopping for gifts for the ones you love, spending a large amount of time decorating your home and preparing it for a gathering, or if you are preparing to travel, these things can be very draining and exhausting. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to take time to rest. Ask those around you for help where they can, and give yourself grace and be grateful for the opportunity to lay down and take a nap, take a bubble bath, or just go for a walk by yourself. Pushing ourselves too much is not only detrimental to us and our own well-being, but it puts us in a situation where we are unable to fully show up as 100% of ourselves for those around us when they need us. If you’re running on empty, you’ll have nothing to give. The holidays can be fun, enjoyable, and filled with memories for everyone. If you feel that you were not in a situation where you want to enjoy the holiday season but are too busy or are running yourself into the ground, take a step back and see what you can do for yourself. Where can you ask for help, or where can you cut out some of your plans? 

Be as intentional with your time, energy, and money as you possibly can. If we are not intentional with our time, we end up not being able to focus our energy on the things that are important to us. When we are not intentional with our money, it collects into stress, which affects our energy that we are able to give to others. There’s no reason to put yourself into more financial stress, or debt for the holidays. There are always ways to be more intentional with our money or do things that do not involve spending. As we mentioned in our tips and recommendations for this month, we recommended that instead of spending money on presents, you can always have a beautiful dinner with your family filled with games and other enjoyable moments! Take a moment to handwrite a card to a friend and get together with them for a walk with no distractions. While we all enjoy a good gift, memories last the longest and can be the most meaningful to people. 

If you find yourself constantly feeling stressed out by your finances during the holiday season, we strongly encourage you to take a second to reach out to us, and have a conversation with our founder Doug Peterson! You do not have to feel the stress of the holiday season every year.  We are able to help you utilize your money in the best way possible to set you up for success for all seasons of the year. No matter what the year throws your way, you will feel prepared and feel like you can be intentional in every aspect of your spending.