Money Matters: Enjoy the Holidays on a Budget

[College kids are notorious for being poor. And why shouldn’t we be? We take out student loans to pay for private universities, can barely balance a part-time job with our full-time courseload, and the only “balance” we’re familiar with refers to the number of points left on our dining hall cards. Oh, did I mention many of us tend to splurge every extra penny on PBR’s at the campus bar?

By Kathryn S

If you disagree with everything I just said, you probably don’t need this column. But if you’re nodding along because you’re officially an adult and still don’t know how to manage your money, then you might want to pay attention every week, because I’m going to (try to) get you through this, and make you a successful saver and a wise spender.]

Ah, holiday season. It’s all fun and Fa-la-la-la-la… until your credit card gets declined while you’re buying a last minute gift for your mom, with only minutes to spare before gift-exchange time. It can be difficult to get through the holiday season, even before you factor in the shopping costs. Holiday parties with drink specials (rather than open bar, because your boss is also scrimping); buying silly trinkets for everyone on your floor; hell, even bulk greeting cards can burn a hole in your wallet. Here are some tips to enjoy the holidays, without worrying about money.

1. Gift-swap with your friends.

If they’re your real friends, you don’t need to show it by wrapping some expensive shizz up. Talk to your friends; if everyone else is strapped for cash, you can vote to do a “Secret Santa” and only buy one gift each, or even save your money and put what you would have spent on gifts towards one really fun girl’s night.

If you really want to wrap something up? Agree on a second-hand gift swap. If you bought a hot designer top, hoping it would motivate you to hit the treadmill (but to no avail), give it to your petite friend. Give another BFF that necklace she borrows every weekend anyway. If it really is the thought that counts, then giving up your own stuff to make someone happy can be more sentimental than a last-minute iTunes gift card.

2. Get in the holiday spirit

Not everyone can afford to go hear the whatever-Symphony play “Carol of the Bells.” Still, you can get just as festive by attending your school’s acapella group Holiday Concert. Christmas carols are a great way to feel festive, so even if you can’t find a free musical revue, why not get your friends together to go caroling yourself?

3. Play Santa…or Angel.

You want a holiday-feel-good-feeling? Volunteer. Donate. Make someone else’s holiday brighter. See if you can get your dining hall to donate their leftover food to the closest homeless shelter or organize a bottle-drive at your dorm (put a bin next to the soda machine for people to toss their recyclables, then cash them in in the name of a charity).

Aroud the holiday times, there are so many organizations putting on events to benefit the less-fortunate, so volunteer at a party. Some upscale parties will let you mingle and enjoy the free food in exchange for a half-hour of set-up labor, so you can pretend you’re at a Festivous bash, while helping out your fellow (wo)man.

4. Enjoy the winter.

Snowball fights? Free. Ice skating at your local lake? Free. Holiday cookies being passed around by your RA? Free. Sit back, take a load off, and enjoy all the free holiday stuff people are thrusting at you every two seconds.

You might be expected to give, give, give during the holiday season, but there are also plenty of opportunities to get something out of the winter.