Reports show the average American household has $9,200 in credit card debt, and will charge nearly $1300 over the holidays. And most people find that it takes six to seven months to pay off those “great deals” they found at Christmas (costing 10-20% more in interest). Don’t go into more debt this Holiday season. Get inspired to get out of debt, get a vision to save money and prepare financially to pursue your dreams and goals. You can still give amazing and creative gifts that your friends and family will love without spending a lot of money.
- Be Creative: Throughout the year, take photos (never leave home without your camera!). In December, choose the 12 best photos from the year and create a calendar. You can upload them (or walk them in) to your local photo center and place your order. Many times you can receive coupons for 20-40% of photo gifts.
- Skip the Burrito: Don’t waste what you earn on small things…like burritos! David Bach calls this “the Latte Factor”. If you spend $3.50 on your “daily latte” or “daily burrito” or whatever. Here’s the hard facts: a latte a day equals $3.50, a latte a day per month equals $105, a latte a year equals $1,260 and a decade equals $12,600. “A latte spurned is a fortune earned.” – People Magazine.
- Starts with “T”: instead of feeling obligated to buy separate gifts for your nephews, nieces, cousins and their children, suggest drawing names secretly and purchase gifts that start with the first letter of that person’s name. For example, if your name is Terri, you might receive: “Taco” gift card, “toe” ring, “tote” bag, and a luggage “tag” (with the Eiffel “tower” on it). Set a price limit. Plus, the fun part is opening the gifts and trying to figure out who gave these crazy, fun gifts.
- Keep the Change until Christmas: put any jingling change you have from your pockets, wallets, car ash tray and all change you receive from purchases into a jar. If you buy a meal that costs $6.23 and you hand them $7 cash, put the $.77 in the jar. Designate a certain day to take all the change to the bank or local grocery store and watch it add up. Or you can put the jar of change under the tree as a present! Change adds up little by little.
- Brownie Points: Since about 60% of consumers have a “rewards” card, it’s the perfect time to check how many points you’ve accumulated on your credit cards, and cash them in. Don’t spend any more money than you already have…redeem the points! Then, get rid of the card…ultimately.
“The average American is busy buying things he doesn’t want with money he doesn’t have to impress people he doesn’t like.” – O. Donald Olson
Scripture: Proverbs 23:18
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For years, Terri Savelle Foy’s life was average. She had no dreams to pursue. Each passing day was just a repeat of the day before. Finally, with a marriage in trouble and her life falling apart, Terri made a change. She began to pursue God like never before, develop a new routine and discovered the power of having a dream and purpose.
As Terri started to recognize her own dreams and goals, she simply wrote them down and reviewed them consistently. This written vision became a road map to drive her life. As a result, those dreams are now a reality.
Terri has become the CEO of an international Christian ministry. She is an author, a conference speaker, and a success coach to hundreds of thousands of people all over the world. Her best-selling books Make Your Dreams Bigger than Your Memories and Imagine Big have helped people discover how to overcome the hurts of the past and see the possibilities of a limitless future. Her weekly podcast is a lifeline of hope and inspiration to people around the world.
Terri Savelle Foy is a cheerleader of dreams and is convinced that “if you can dream it, God can do it.” She is known across the globe as a world-class motivator of hope and success through her transparent and humorous teaching style. Terri’s unique ability to communicate success strategies in a simple and practical way has awakened the dreams of the young and old alike.
Terri shares from personal experience the biblical concepts of using the gift of the imagination to reach full potential in Jesus Christ. From stay-at-home moms to business executives, Terri consistently inspires others to go after their dreams. With step-by-step instruction and the inspiration to follow through, people are fueled with the passion to complete their life assignment down to the last detail (see John 17:4).
Terri and her husband, Rodney Foy, have been married since 1991, and are the parents of a beautiful redheaded daughter, Kassidi Cherie. They live near Dallas, Texas.