Don’t major on the minors

With just under three weeks left in the year and holidays on the brain, it’s no wonder people are stressing out.

In a lot of ways, this time of year is Peak Spending Season, so I’ve recently seen a big uptick in client concerns about overspending, about holiday plans being too over the top, about gifts not being in alignment with their values, you name it.

It seems like everyone's worried about getting what they want done--without derailing the budget or going into debt.

Trust me, I get it. There’s a lot going on, and you don’t want your short-term celebrating to interfere with your long-term goals. But here’s a mindset shift I’ll offer you this season: Don’t major on the minors. What does this mean? Rather than sweating the small stuff, I want to encourage you to look at the big picture and how the next few weeks fit into that.

Since we’re nearing the end of a year, why not start by looking at all you’ve accomplished this year? Odds are good that taking a couple hundred bucks out of savings to fund holiday plans pales in comparison to all the awesome progress you’ve made. It may feel like a small step backwards, but progress isn’t always linear, so don’t spend too much time beating yourself up over it. We’re all human, and life happens.

After that, focus on figuring out the biggest things that need to happen for you in the next 19 days. For instance, as the parent of a college student, I have to put another $1000 or so towards my daughter’s 529 to max it out for the year. With only a couple weeks left to go in 2019, I’ve made a conscious decision to get that important thing done, even it it means I’m technically overspending on this month’s budget in other places. Are there any big priorities like that in your life? Make sure you make them the real focus of your efforts.

Finally, when you think about the big picture and focus on what really matters near the end of the year, you might actually find that your main priorities don’t actually involve spending money at all. For example, make sure you’re taking time to relax during the holidays, building wonderful memories with family and loved ones, enjoying a good meal, and kicking your shoes off to watch a movie with kids or grandkids.

Here’s the bottom line, friends: rather than getting overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of life, I hope you give yourself a little grace this holiday season. I know I certainly am.

To your success!

Ericka