Hello Dear Reader,
When Christians Against Poverty get in touch with me and ask me to promote their CAP Money courses that are run all over the UK, I was more than happy to promote them. I've had a chance to support their work locally a while ago and can testify first hand the difference it made to the lives of family. Debt is utterly vile and those who peddle credit prey on the most vulnerable. CAP are launching this campaign in readiness for the 16th September when it will be 100 days until Christmas but why wait until then?
It's 133 days until Christmas and even though I see the festive period as a Christian festival and not a 'shop-fest', I will make plans in good time. I have guests to feed, we'll have time off work and there will be an increase in the demands on my budget.
I will buy expensive joints of meat throughout September and October and freeze them. I will buy a frozen turkey as soon as they appear in the shops and put that in the deep freeze. I will buy extra logs in the early autumn and fill my shed, the space by the shed and cover them in a tarpauline so I have plenty of heat for the winter. I will start to add to my pantry cupboard from September onwards: dried fruit, sugar, tins of meat and fish, tins of fruit and vegetables as it will help my budget over the winter months and of course over the Christmas period too.
But what if you haven't got a grip of the family finances? Families desperately try to sort out money and keep getting it so very wrong. It could have been me and there by the grace of God go I. It could be any of us. If I lost my job? If I were renting and the landlord wanted the house back? If I couldn't afford to get the best deals. Many families really struggle and end up with crippling debt and can't see any way out.
I met families at a work shop who told me that if it wasn't for the help of CAP, they could have lost their homes and with continuing support were not only getting out of debt but learning real financial skills to ensure their families had a sustainable budget to work with.
Can I ask, that if you have a twitter account and if you could follow Christians Against Poverty that you could support their campaign in financial education and their promotion that families have a credit free Christmas. Here's the link https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/30033-do-christmas-without-credit that if you have a blog - can you promote it? If you have a twitter account can you re-tweet? Could you pop something on Pintrest? Can you get something on Instagram? Here I'm talking to thrifty people who have an interest in saving money but someone, somewhere might see this, a tweet or a pin for the very first time and may seek help with debt or family budgeting? If you can help us get that thunderclap heard, it would be so helpful for many many families. If you could tweet a link to this blog as well then it will help get the message out there and spread the message from CAP.
Here's my contribution to a credit free Christmas.
1. Have realistic family expectations, start talking budgets now. It's no good raising any children's hopes about anything the family can't afford. Discuss what can be afforded and not.
2.Set a budget per person, why not try and be creative and set a target of £2.50 per person and yes, I do believe it can be done.
3. Start looking in freeads, car boot sales, jumble sales and charity shops for good items such as toys and clothes. You'll be surprised how good some items are. I buy board games, jig saws and books for our own amusement but many are as good as new.
4. Get to know the £1/99p store. A little gift here and there. You could make up: a make up bag, a toiletries set, stationery can make lovely gifts and spread the cost by spending £1 or £2 a week to get a few gifts together.
5. Long life food gifts: chocolate last for ages and buying a few bars here and there to spread the cost.
6. Start adding to the food cupboard now, tinned goods such as ham, fish and fruit can help the family budget over the Christmas period especially when there is more heating to pay for.
7. You can pay energy bills on line and can over pay by making a direct payment through your online banking (if you can read this then you're online) and each payday, add whatever additional payment you can make. Christmas is expensive when you are off work and the lights and heating are on, it's an additional cost that needs budgeting for.
8.Supermarket savings schemes, such as saving stamps that can be purchased weekly. There are fourteen weeks until Christmas and saving £5 a week is £95
9. Buy Christmas meat and freeze it week by week. The meat prices shoot up in December so don't wait. A gammon joint one week, a large family sized chicken another, a joint of pork or beef another time. Get it in the freezer before the prices rise.
10. Don't let this happen again. When our children were small, we saved for Christmas and birthdays all year. We bought gifts throughout the year and hid them. We bought and still buy wrapping paper and cards in the New Year when they are cheap.
Over to you Dear Reader, some one might read this for the first time and might want some advice on not only a credit free Christmas but a credit it free life. Can as many of you as possible leave a message of advice on: budgeting, saving for Christmas and birthdays, how to spread costs and expenses.
When I've asked for your help in the past you've stepped up and been so wonderful and I'd appreciate your comments as one of them might be just the help someone needs.
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogs xxxx