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Christmas is just a week away, and many people are either finishing up their gifts purchases or, for the procrastinators among us, are scrambling frantically to secure presents.
But the never-ending parade of holiday commercials and the festive Christmas displays at malls seem intent on tempting consumers to make just another purchase.
I, like many people, have fallen victim to this syndrome. I'd think I have finished all my shopping, but suddenly, I'll spy something online or in store and think, wow, this is great, I should get it.
Once you have bought everything on your list, how do you fight the urge to buy just one more thing? You have fought to keep your shopping under a budget - don't undermine yourself at the last minute by buying more than you need.
Here are five ways to resist the all-powerful just-one-more-gift syndrome.
1. Repeat to self: "It is enough. I'm done with shopping. I do not need to buy one more thing for Uncle Joe, Auntie Kate, Cousin Frank, or Momma Dearest." Stop looking for the Perfect Gift online or in stores. You have selected the best gifts you can with the time and budget you've given yourself. It is enough. You have enough. Your recipients will have enough. Now it's time to move forward from the gift-purchasing stage of the holidays.
2. Avoid the malls and shops after you've done your Christmas shopping. After all, why tempt yourself? Instead, use this calm before the storm to prepare for the holidays (wrapping presents, decorating the tree, making Christmas cookies with your family, trying out new recipes, etc.), or just kick back and relax. Doesn't a night of drinking hot cocoa and watching Christmas movies sound better than fighting your way through Target or Toys R Us for last-minute shopping? You can build more meaningful memories by spending time with your friends or family instead of going out to search for another gift.
3. Think about why you want to buy another gift after you've checked off everything on your list. We all say that the real purpose of the holidays is to spend time with friends and family. Will the addition of that one gift really make a difference? Will spending an extra $20 or $100 or $200 make the holidays more memorable for you and your loved ones? Or spending the extra money just cause you to regret when the credit card bill comes in January?
4. Make gifts. Instead of spending more money, perhaps you can put a little more of yourself into the gifts you've already bought. Making a wrapping especially beautiful or creative, or making Christmas cookies to go with a store-purchased gift will help the recipients appreciate your thoughtfulness even more.
5. If you must must must buy one more gift, limit yourself to thrifty gift ideas that won't break the bank. No gift, no matter how perfect, is worth financial hardship or headache.
