7 Ways to Do More with Less on a Holiday Season

The holiday season is the most awaited season. It is an exciting time full of gifts and bright Christmas lights displays that would make you wish the holidays would never end. Between shopping, vacations, and extravagant holiday meals, saving money and conserving energy would be the least of our concerns during the holidays. In fact, we really don't mind about those things at all.

Although it really feels that cash registers are the ones singing the merriest jingles this season, there are actually a lot of ways to have all the fun this holiday season without starving our pockets and putting our wallets on a diet.

How can one actually do more with less? Here are 7 surefire ways that can help you do more without having to put yourself on a spending spree.

1. Detox digitally
I know this is hard and almost close to impossible. Internet has become the means of communication and be connected everywhere. As someone who takes pride of being a multi-tasker switching from one app to another, how are you supposed to switch off digitally?

Honestly, you cant.

But you can minimize. You can lessen the usage. You can spend less time on Facebook. You can read books or have a real conversation with real people. You wouldn't die if you haven't checked your Facebook or Twitter for a day, would you? Plus, you'd also save yourself from spending unknowingly for lurking to sites like ebay, lazada, or olx. And that could also mean saving a significant amount on your electricity bills.

Did you know that the internet can zombify you?

And with the internet invading our lives turning them into pixels, I think it's about time we see the world not through our screens but through our very own eyes, so let's also...


2. Spend more time outside
A walk in the park, witness a sunrise, get your breath be taken away by the sunset, jog, zumba, dance in the rain, go camping, go cycling, join clean up drives, plant a tree, or volunteer to create something for humanity... Believe me, I can come up plenty of reasons to go outside and you wouldn't even have to spend a hefty amount for it. Plus, being outside saves you from turning on your cooling systems, laptop or television. That's like hitting two birds with one stone: you get to use your physical energy and burn calories and at the same time you get to conserve energy and not burn cash.

Go outside, pitch a tent, and play a guitar. :)

3. Trim your spendings
How do you not go over your budget? Eat what's readily available on the pantry instead of heading to the grocery to spend for a week of wasted food. Or have home-cooked meals instead of eating at a restaurant. And we all know that red tag and midnight sales are everywhere. Trust me, these are just baits and tricky gimmicks of malls to make you spend  more money. Buying in bulk isn't always a pocket saver and multi-buys like "Buy 2 get 1 free" isn't always a cheap option. You'll only end up buying stuff you don't know what to do with while having an empty pocket. You don't want to fall for that trap.

And to cut holiday spendings, you can also...


4. Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
Holidays can get pretty expensive. But you can save more if you get creative. Use old papers, or reuse old grocery paper bags instead of using a store-brought wrapping paper for presents. Make your own Christmas decorations. It doesn't hurt to be extra crafty with old materials.

5. Give back
This is the season for giving. This is the best time to teach kids to give back for all the blessings they have received all throughout the year. Teach them the value of giving through donating their outgrown clothes and unused toys. Helping others is free of charge and it uplifts both the spirits of the giver and receiver.

6. It's all about family
Christmas is not all about presents, bright lights, and sumptuous feasts. Having a family to share laughter, hugs, and memories with is far more important and worth having than all the presents you can buy in the store.

And by family, I do not just mean your blood-related families. It could be your friends, colleagues, or anybody you consider a family for that matter.

7. Real essence of the holiday season
What does Christmas really mean to you? For us, Christians, this the season we celebrate Christ's birth. But we should also understand that Christmas isn't confined to this alone for not everyone has the same religious views as ours. But if we were to celebrate the essence of the holiday season, we can always give and do what's universally known to many...

LOVE.

It's a wonderful time when we give love to others in different forms like kindness, appreciation, generosity, quality time, and gratitude. To love is the best thing you can do not only during the holiday season but all year round instead. And best of all, it's free. :)

I hope you all guys spent your holidays with a bang! And by that, it doesn't always mean you have spend too much. Love more, give more, do more, spend less!

This blog post is in support of the #DoMoreWithLess advocacy led by Electrolux Philippines.