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The holiday season usually means many people will be travelling in order to be with their loved ones. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Eid, this time of year always represents a magical time when strangers are friendlier and more willing to lend a helping hand. I know that I am generally happier during the holidays and part of the reason is because my family will be coming to visit from the United States and I rarely get to see them. They usually make the short, 2-hour flight right before Christmas and spend a couple of days with us.
Costs
With gas prices where they used to be, it was cheaper to fly into Buffalo’s airport, rent a car and make the 2-hour drive into Toronto. Direct flights into Toronto were almost double the price and driving all the way from North Carolina took about 16 hours give or take a couple of bathroom breaks. Now, however, gas prices are declining making the decision a little more difficult for some people. It really depends on preference and how much money you are willing to spend. Driving may be a little more cost efficient, but it is a heck of a lot more time consuming, especially if the trip will only be for a couple of days.
With so many companies forced into layoffs, it would seem that the best thing to do would be to save as much money as possible and stay put, even during the holidays. But the holidays are a time when it is important for families to be together and I firmly believe that while crunching numbers is a realistic way to keep track of personal finances, nothing should stop you from being with your family at this time of year.
Tips for Saving Money
Whether you are the one travelling or you are having your family come to visit, there are plenty of things you can do to cut the costs of a holiday trip. The biggest expense is getting to your destination. Once you have that figured out, you have to decide where you will be staying. As a gracious host, understand that hotels are expensive and a lot of money has already been spent on gifts and travel, so invite family to stay at your home. Believe me, having been both the traveller and host I know that it takes a lot of pressure off having to worry about where to stay and how much it will cost. Plus having a lot of family around makes the holidays feel a lot more like the holidays. There is no routine, a lot of chaos and people everywhere: that pretty much sums up every Christmas I can remember!
If everyone is feeling really strapped for cash, especially this year with the economy crisis, there are plenty of other ways to cut back on spending. One of those ways is to do Secret Santa. Put the names of everyone who wants to participate into a hat, mix them up and draw names one at a time. Instead of buying gifts for everyone, you can set a spending limit and buy only for the person whose name you drew. Secret Santa used to be more common between groups of friends and co-workers, but is quickly becoming popular among family members.
Remember the Meaning of the Holidays
It is easy to get carried away with how much things cost, especially during the holidays. There is never a time that I am not worried about money, thinking about how to make more, save more, spend less. However, the holidays should be a time for relaxing and enjoying time with your family and friends. It is a time to reflect on your blessings and put your worries aside. Keep in mind the meaning of the holiday that you celebrate and take the time to reflect on what it means to you. If you celebrate Christmas and you travelled a long way to be with your family, consider the journey that Mary and Joseph made on the night that Jesus was born. If you celebrate Hanukkah, think about why your family comes together to light the candles for those eight days. If you celebrate Eid, think about the sacrifice that Ibrahim made when he gave up his son. No matter what your religion is, the message is always the same: family is of the utmost importance and there is no better time to celebrate and be with your family than during the holidays.
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