• Consider switching houses with someone from a destination you'd like to visit. Zimmerman is giving house swapping a try this holiday season as she heads to Vancouver to stay at a friend's. But be cautious about whom you exchange with. "If you're going to do a house swap, visit Google Earth and do as much research as you can," says Turner. Check out sites such as HomeForExchange.com and homelink.ca.
Save holiday money
The holidays are the perfect time of year to rethink your spending, says Nancy Zimmerman, a money coach in Yellowknife and the owner of Your Money by Design. "Use this time to be really thoughtful and intentional with your spending. Your spending should reflect your values," she says. Consider adopting these financial habits this holiday – and carrying them forward into the new year.
• Record your spending. "Most of us think we know, but we don't really until we actually track it," says Zimmerman. Keeping receipts from your holiday purchases gives you a tangible way to see where you waste money. It helps you identify where you can improve next year and gives you a reference point to compare with.
• Look for a credit card that offers generous points without a huge annual fee. It could help you get a head start on paying for next season's vacation.
• Reuse and recycle. Resources such as freecycle.org are great places to find hidden gems. If you like to refinish old furniture to give as special gifts, for example, you don't have to shell out big bucks for an antique item.
| This story was originally titled "Have Yourself a Merry (Budget-Friendly) Christmas" in the December 2010 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue! |
Page 4 of 4
