3 Things to do After the Holidays
The holidays have passed, gifts have been given and received, relatives have been visited and I’m back to my day-job. It was an enjoyable break, but it’s back to reality. With that in mind, I’ve got three post-holiday plans (besides watching bowl games) to help out with the finances after the holidays.
- Return it: Unless your aunt Edna just won’t forgive you for returning or exchanging that Christmas sweatshirt with Santa and his elves printed on the front, return it, sell it, exchange it or “regift” it. If you haven’t exchanged it yet, don’t delay, as there might be a returns policy that will run out.
- Use that gift card: Some gift cards come with fees for inactivity. You’re better off using it before it runs out. If it’s not your kind of store, sell it or give it.
- Set some goals: With the end of the (tax) year coming up, you might want to consult with a tax pro to see what moves you can make, or just set some SMART financial goals for the new year.
Exchanging unwanted gifts can do more than lift your pocketbook. It will de-clutter your life, but doing it at the peril of relationships can be touchy. Hopefully we can all start the new year financially organized and clutter-free.
