No matter how many times you may have reminded yourself, it’s a fair guess that you most likely did not completely eliminate the urge to splurge during the recent holiday season. Even though your family may have said no gifts are necessary, it can be hard to swallow the idea of showing up empty handed—my immediate family says year after year that “our presence is our present,” and yet we all show up with armloads of gifts, every year. The last thing we want is to cause our loved ones financial distress at our expense, so how do we fight the urge to splurge in the year ahead?
　　Maybe the key isn’t fighting the urge, but rather redirecting it. Instead of focusing on what you can give your friends and family, why not focus on what you can give to others? My dad’s side of the family is so large—starting with 14 children and expanding out to over 70 grandchildren and great grandchildren—that a secret Santa set up has always been necessary for the holidays. However, about five years ago we made the decision to change that. Now, instead of struggling to remember how exactly we’re related to our secret Santa, we adopt a local family in need and give in any way we can. Some of us give money or gifts, others make food or donate time to help. This way we all share in something together, without the financial stress, while also doing good for others.
　　Financial goals frequently top New Year’s resolution lists, but frequently we focus so hard on our new goals that we forget to incorporate the lessons we learned in the year behind us, especially the most recent lessons we can glean from holiday splurging. Often understanding our biggest pitfalls can help us better prepare to avoid them in the future.
　　What advice do you give your family, friends and clients to help them resist the urge to splurge? What tactics do you use for yourself?
　　With tax season upon us, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19, now is a great time to consider volunteering your CPA expertise in your community. The AICPA 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy program recently updated the Volunteer Kits on aicpa.org, available for free to all AICPA members, to give you the tools to get volunteering in your community. For more information on getting involved, contact Claudia Cieslak.
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