Overview
With the Hanukkah season fast approaching, one of the things you'll have to take into account is how this holiday is likely to affect your budget. Whether you've been hard-hit by the recession or have enjoyed a year of prosperity, taking a little time to plan out your spending needs before the holiday arrives will save you from having to dread the arrival of January's credit card bill.
Step 1
Decide how you'd like to decorate, and whether you'll need to purchase new items in order to do so. If you prefer the minimalist approach or have a box of Hannukah decorations you've been storing last year, you may not need to budget any money for decorations over and above the cost of candles. If you know, though, that you're going to be tempted by all of the new decorations available in shops and online, do a little pre-shopping to determine the likely costs, then set a spending limit based on the items you really, truly feel you can't live without.
Step 2
Make up a greeting card list, then check it twice. Do you really want to spend the money to send a paper card to everyone on that list? Be sure to factor in postage, as the cost of stamps seems to keep rising every other week or so. If some of those nearest and dearest are a little less near and dear than they used to be, like perhaps your cousin's ex-roommate, you may wish to consider sending those people nice Hanukkah e-cards instead.
Step 3
Check your gift list over carefully as well. Determine the amount you are willing to spend on each gift, and whether you will be giving gifts for each night of Hanukkah, or just one gift for the entire Hanukkah celebration. Total up the number of gifts you will be purchasing and the amount you will likely spend on each. If you're overwhelmed by the total figure, you may need to adjust accordingly--perhaps only giving small token gifts for 7 nights and one large gift on the eighth, or buying gifts for children but not adults. If you are the domestic and/or artistic type you may wish to consider homemade gifts, but be sure to factor in the cost of the necessary materials and ingredients as you may find that going the homemade route can be even costlier (not to mention more time-consuming) than buying your gifts.
Step 4
Plan your holiday travel well in advance. If you'll be spending Hanukkah with out-of-town friends or family, the earlier you are able to book air or rail travel and hotel rooms, the better deal you're likely to find. You may also need a bit of extra time to arrange for any special needs you may have such as kosher meals.
Step 5
Decide what types of food you'll be serving if you plan to entertain during the holidays. If you'll be cooking yourself, keep in mind the ingredients called for by each recipe. Are these things you have on hand, or will you need to go out and purchase supplies? Will you need to purchase anything from a special supplier, and if so, how much is this likely to cost, factoring in shipping and handling? There are a number of kosher grocers who sell products online, but you'll need to order well in advance to make sure your products are delivered on time. Rush delivery may be available, but will be sure to be your most expensive option.
If you prefer to have your celebration catered, you'll also need to plan in advance, as Kosher caterers tend to be booked up well in advance of Hanukkah. Determine the amount you are willing to spend per guest, and interview several caterers to get an idea of menu options available to you that will fit your budget.
Step 6
Don't forget to budget your calories as well. If you are dieting and trying to stick to a daily calorie limit, you might want to give yourself a little holiday leeway, but not too much--just a few hundred extra calories per day, and only for the 8 days of Hanukkah. Get more bang for your buck, calorie-wise, by thinking of ways to lighten up your Hanukkah favorites. Latkes are traditional, but can be quite heavy on the fat and calories. If you'll be cooking them yourself, look for a low-fat recipe. If this is not an option, you can at least choose unsweetened applesauce or fat-free sour cream as a topping. Sufganiot can be baked instead of fried to keep the fat down a bit, and a flat first-cut brisket will be less fatty than a point-cut one.
How to Budget for Hanukkah originally published on LIVESTRONG.COM
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