What You Need to Know to Have Safe and Budget-Friendly Holidays
You want to be able to safely spend time with your family and friends this holiday season, but you also want to be able to do so without putting any pressure on your budget. After all, we’re all worried about our health and finances these days.
Luckily, there are a couple of ways you can still enjoy the holidays with the folks you love, without putting your health or your community at risk.
You can also do so without putting your budget into the red. You can use the following information from E City Beat to figure out how.
The True Costs of COVID
So your main concern is budget, and that’s understandable. With unemployment rates continuing to climb in most states, including Montana, people are looking for all sorts of ways to cut costs. That is, without cutting the joy out of the holiday season.
But let’s be clear: inviting your extended or out-of-state family into your home for the holidays could put every single one of your lives at risk. Not to mention that any resulting community spread will only lead to further restrictions and shutdowns. This means you’ll likely need to trim even more from your budget in the coming months.
Not convinced by personal and public health risks? Well then consider the potential bills of a hospital stay due to coronavirus. The average treatment can top out at $20,000 or more.
Although the CARES Act does guarantee help with COVID-related medical bills, getting that help can be a chore. So keep this in mind as you plan your holiday celebrations.
Safer Holiday Gatherings
If you do want to celebrate with people outside of your own household, the safest way to do so is outdoors. You need to be able to stay at least 6 feet apart from others in order to make this work, and you’ll need extra sources of warmth during the cold winter months.
A couple of DIY fire pits could prove useful. With a few materials and a little hard work, you can put together some pretty impressive fire pits in less than a day. Then your loved ones will have a nice, cozy and safe area to spend the holidays together. Another completely free option is to host a virtual celebration.
We know this doesn’t have the same feeling as seeing your loved ones in-person, but this is the best way to gather with the people you love and still keep them safe from the coronavirus. Plus it’s completely free.
Budget-Friendly Online Gifts
If you don’t want to take any risk this year, you can still spread holiday joy by sending thoughtful presents to your friends and family. For the little ones on your list, you’ll want to shop early. Since there is a must-have gift every year, buying early ensures you’ll snag a deal on their presents, and it gives you plenty of time to ship everything.
Edible gifts, like cookies and other seasonal treats, are also a thoughtful and inexpensive way to show you care. You can safely drop holiday treats off on a doorstep or send them via post. Just be mindful of recommended dates for getting your holiday packages to their destination on time without spending a fortune.
The pandemic may be ongoing, but it doesn’t have to ruin your holidays. Plan to celebrate outdoors or online with your loved ones, and you should be able to keep everyone safe. Also, look for ways to keep costs low, so you won’t be stressed about your budget.
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