by Kit Murray

murrayki@mnstate.edu

I’ve always enjoyed holidays, minus the fact that it can quickly put a damper on my wallet. As a college student, I’m curious to find ways to budget my finances, especially when it comes to spending money on friends and family for the holidays.

Although last weekend was Valentine’s Day, how many of us ended up basking in the glorious treats that were half-off at Walmart the day afterwards? I know I went straight to the grocery store in town to stock up on Cadbury chocolate on Feb. 15 with absolutely no shame.

A friend of mine and I were chatting after I saw a gigantic stuffed teddy bear in the gift shop window and realized it was 50 percent off after Valentine’s Day. If a significant other were to buy that for me following the holiday I would still be more than okay with it. Saving money means more money for Buffalo Wild Wings, right?

Does that mean we’re contemplating ignoring the whole idea of a traditional holiday? Some may say if we’re not celebrating on the day, it isn’t celebrating the holiday.

Another issue is the fact people may think the bar is being set too high. If we’re meant to celebrate just one day, then we should stick to solidifying it.

Keeping the idea of Black Friday aside, might it be a better idea to celebrate Christmas a few days later? That way, families can try to lessen the blow of costs for gifting others and perhaps lower stress levels as well. It may be hard to do, with everyone else celebrating the day off, but in the end, it’s about who the holiday is celebrated with and what is done to enjoy it.

Although Christmas season has come and gone, we can learn from it each year and take advantage of what we’ve learned financially.

Especially as college students, it’s important to take note of how to save money in any situation.

One Christmas, my family and I had decided to celebrate the day of, but continue buying presents even after Christmas. This made it much less stressful, more budget friendly and easier to manage. It ended up working out incredibly well, but only when immediate family was involved.

Evan Geiger, music industry junior, had similar thoughts on the topic as well:

“To me, the holiday is the holiday, and we make sure to celebrate on that day. However, if there is a deal a few days later, I would still buy that and include it in the celebrations afterwards. So, for that reason I rationalize just about any holiday-related purchase made within a certain amount of time.”

Holidays can be tricky and stressful, but incredibly rewarding. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a friend’s face when they open a gift that I’ve gotten them to show how grateful I am to have them in my life. These days add spice to our calendars, but we shouldn’t have to compromise our wallets for them.