I won’t deny it; I have mixed feelings about commercial holidays — those occasions dreamt up solely to stimulate retail sales. Of course, I see nothing wrong in taking the time to acknowledge significant others on Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Sweetest Day, Valentine’s Day, and the like. Yet, I cannot ignore the reality that, given their way, retailers would have us celebrating some sort of commercial holiday every day.
Hence the numerous seemingly random days celebrated on social media like National Donut Day or Taco Day. While I enjoy the celebration of things I love, my wallet won’t permit me to spend a fortune every time.
Extravagant spending is epidemic during holidays like Christmas, and I arrange my budget to accommodate this once-a-year expense. However, if I followed the same pattern for every minor holiday, my finances would quickly spiral out of control.
In 2018, Valentine’s Day led customers to part with about $19.6 billion, while spending on Father’s Day hit a record peak of $15.3 billion. I don’t want to contribute significantly to such staggering figures for commercial holidays, mostly due to financial constraints.
That’s why my family and I came up with methods to avoid overspending for minor holidays. We also found alternative ways to celebrate. Here are some of them:
1. GREETING CARDS ARE OVERRATED
Resisting the temptation to over-indulge in consumerism during commercial holidays might mean avoiding buying cliche greeting cards. Although these cards may have a sentimental value, their impact is brief, and they often contribute to clutter.
While some people enjoy collecting cards, most of us tend to dispose of them after a while. For us, expressing our feelings to one another directly has far more value than buying an expensive greeting card. It’s much more heartfelt and cost-effective to share handwritten notes.
2. GIFT SETS LACK QUALITY
In my six years of being married, I have realized that my creative supply of gift ideas for small commercial holidays has drastically diminished. It became obvious that most gifts from holiday baskets get lost or broken soon after they’re given. Generally, these gift sets are cheaply made and often come across as thoughtless. Therefore, instead of doling out such meaningless gifts, we choose to invest time in understanding each other’s interests and needs better.
3. RESTAURANTS ARE OVER-CROWDED AND OVER-PRICED
Holidays are usually synonymous with packed restaurants, leading to inflated prices. While dining out occasionally is fine, we prefer eating at home for the most part, especially on smaller holidays. We cook our meals and sometimes try buffets to enjoy a variety of dishes at a reasonable price.
4. IT CLASHES WITH MY FINANCIAL GOALS
Indulging in extravagant spending for minor commercial holidays is not congruent with my long-term financial goals. As I aspire to achieve financial independence, it’s vital for me to pay off my remaining debts and save or invest as much as possible.
Reflecting on these points, I feel it’s essential not to let commercial holidays drive unnecessary expenditures, steer us from our financial goals, or dictate how and when we should express appreciation for our loved ones.
What are your views about commercial holidays? Do you enjoy them or avoid them? Do you often find yourself trapped in a cycle of unnecessary spending during these times?
