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“Holiday Cashflow Strategies”
by Jeanna Gabellini

This is the month known to send people into a spending frenzy. Then in January we're busy beating ourselves up for the damage we did to our finances and setting new resolutions. Why wait? Make life-changing habits with how you choose to spend money before Dec. 31. Be proactive vs. reactive.

The focus of this article is to have you be conscious of your spending habits around the holidays and aligning them with your goals, knowing the impact your decisions make on a global level, and making choices that are both fulfilling to you and your gift recipients.

If you don't celebrate holidays by purchasing gifts, hosting parties, etc. -- hip, hip, hooray for you! Especially if that is a choice that feels “good“ to you. If you buy gifts, wonderful. As long as it feels good now as well as in January.

Honestly answer the following for yourself:

• What will give you true fulfillment this season? Why?
• What will you say “yes“ to?
• What will you say “no“ to?

If it didn't matter what other folks thought, would you change any of your answers?

If you buy gifts:

• What is your overall budget for holidays (include special events, entertaining, airfare, gifts, etc.)?
• How much will you spend on each person's gift?
• How did you decide the above? (Sometimes we choose from unconscious belief patterns such as: “It's expected of me,““I'd feel guilty if I didn't,“ “Holidays are a great excuse to shop.“)
• How will this budget impact your present and future cashflow goals?

If you don't buy gifts:

• What will bring you joy? Hibernating, connecting with family via
  phone or in person, gatherings, making gifts, writing special cards,
  contributing to folks less abundant, reading or creating your goal
  list for 2000?

Being Conscious

Have you ever thought about the impact of your purchases on our economy, environment, or overall well-being? Most of us consider these questions when buying:

• Will this product/service make me happy?
• Will this product/service make my family/friend happy?
• Can I afford it?
• Shall I charge it?

What about these considerations:

• Does this product/service truly fill my need?
• Will I be using this a year from now?
• Will this eventually wind up in a landfill (taking up to 200 years
  to decompose)?
• Is this purchase in alignment with my values and goals?
• Does this purchase feel good or do I feel anxiety?
• Who am I supporting with this purchase?
• What is the manufacturer's labor, quality, and environmental practices? (If you think this is not important, you are choosing to stick your head in the sand, because this effects you as well as many other living beings.)
• How is this product packaged? Can I recycle it?
• Do I truly need this or is this a want or desire?
• How many hours of work am I trading for the money I'm about to spend?
• How much will I have to spend to upgrade, run, or repair this item?
• If buying on credit: What 's the real cost to me, after interest ?
• Am I filling an emotional void in my life with this purchase?
• Will I truly (or the recipient) use this? (Or am I just hoping I/they will?)
• Is there another way to meet the need this purchase is filling?
• If I say “Yes“ to this purchase, what will I have to say “No“ to?
• How will I turn this doodad or liability into an asset?

Are you starting to see the picture? So much of the time we are on automatic pilot when we make decisions and/or spend money. Being conscious takes a little practice. You need to check in with yourself. Ask yourself the tough questions and then be willing to tell the truth about why you are making that decision. Know the impact on your life and the planet.

Pocketbook Aside

The more stuff we buy, the more stuff manufacturers create. What happens to all this stuff once we buy it? Landfills are overflowing. Consider the longevity of an item before buying. Will it be obsolete soon? Will somebody else be able to use it when you're through? What about wrapping materials for gifts? Do you recycle or does it go into a landfill? Or do you burn it creating toxic fumes? How about using gift bags that can be used over and over. Or wrap a gift with a gift ( ie: wrap a book in a wool scarf).

If we don't have planet earth, we have nowhere to go. Pluto is far too cold and Mercury is too hot. The stars are too small.

Bottom Line

Folks care more about your company than any store-bought gift. Give 'em a hug and tell them, from your heart, how you feel. Put your thoughts in writing and it will keep giving to them long after the holidays are over.

Cozy up with a book by Robert Kiyosaki, play a little CASHFLOW 101 or 202, and make yourself some hot chocolate perhaps. Make the most of your holidays. I'll be with you in spirit and wealth. May peace find and stay with you. I hope you'll choose to come play at the January CASHFLOW Seminar so I can further support you in your emotional & financial intelligence. Namaste'.

How I Walk My Talk

I do buy gifts. I set a limit for each person. I shop all year for birthdays, Christmas, and special occasions. I never buy on credit unless I pay off the balance at the end of the month. Unique gifts are usually bought wholesale at special public events, or used. My favorite things to give are gifts that I barter for my coaching or I create. Past gifts: massage gift certificate, professional organizer, movie and restaurant gift certificates (they're a great gift and not wasteful), food baskets -- we all need to eat.

Make donations to a favorite charity in families/friends' name. I often make dinner or a picnic instead of buying a gift. Framed photos I've taken are my most popular gift.

If I can buy something used, I do. Antique, secondhand stores, and consignment shops are thriving. The more we shop at these kinds of stores, they will stay in vogue.

I have to love what I purchase and feel great or my pocketbook stays closed. If I question or deliberate on a purchase, it's a red flag to me. The red flag usually means that my gut is saying, “It's wasteful, disposable, or it won't bring me joy in the near future; I really don't need this; this is an impulse buy; this is not in my budget or in alignment with my goals or values.“

I recycle everything -- paper, cans, plastic, cardboard. Food and yard scraps go into the composter (it's easy). I reuse and recycle all gift wrap.

Copyright © 2003 Jeanna Gabellini