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Episode: 288 - Embracing a Budget-Friendly, Relaxed Holiday Season with Kimberley Gillan

As the holiday season approaches, families often look forward to moments of joy and togetherness, though financial stress can sometimes overshadow these festivities. Many seek ways to create special memories without overstretching their budget. In our latest Debt Free Dad podcast episode, we were thrilled to welcome Kimberley Gillan, author of How Low Can You Go? Nutritious Meals from $50 a Week, who offered valuable tips for a festive, affordable, and meaningful holiday season. 

 

 

 

Alleviating Holiday Financial Strain 

Our discussion started with the reality of holiday spending pressures. With many people going into debt to fund holiday expenses, Kimberley stressed resisting the commercial holiday push and focusing on the holiday spirit rather than excessive spending. 

Cherish Presence Over Presents 

Kimberley shared a touching story from her childhood, where her family emphasized experiences over material gifts. She encouraged listeners to rethink family traditions, focusing on being present and creating memorable experiences rather than spending on costly gifts. 

Crafting Unique Family Traditions 

Families have a wonderful opportunity to create their own traditions. Kimberley urged listeners to embrace rituals that are personally meaningful, whether crafting homemade decorations or organizing a day of games and stories, making the holiday memorable without giving in to commercial expectations. 

Practical Holiday Savings Tips 

Kimberley offered several strategies for smart holiday spending: 

  1. Gifts: Consider giving one meaningful gift from Santa, involving extended family for larger purchases, or starting a Secret Santa to keep costs manageable. 
  2. Meals and Dining: Opt for brunch outings instead of dinners, skip alcohol, and encourage children to try adult meals so you can split food costs. For holiday meals, split catering tasks among family members to save. 
  3. Decorations and Entertainment: Get creative with reused boxes and bags for decorations, reducing both costs and waste. Simple displays at home can also capture the festive spirit. 

Reducing Holiday Stress 

Kimberley also shared tips to keep holiday stress low: plan early, finalize gift lists by December, and adopt new traditions that bring personal joy and relaxation. 

In the end, the holiday season should be about meaningful moments rather than financial strain. Kimberley Gillan’s insights remind us to embrace the season’s true essence. For more tips, visit her website, kimberleygillan.com, or explore her book for frugal holiday ideas. 

 

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Kimberley: https://kimberleygillan.com/ 

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Transcript:

Brad Nelson, Host 00:00
Hey! So today, guys, we are diving into one of the most wonderful and also financially challenging times of the year. Yes, the holidays are in full swing. Joining us is Kimberley Gillan, author of How Low Can You Go? Kimberley is here to help us navigate the hidden expenses of holidays. We're going to tackle some tough but timely questions, such as: should you go into debt for Christmas? Is it possible to have a meaningful celebration without breaking the bank? And what about all those retail and supermarket traps during this season of giving? Kimberley will share smart strategies for creating a low-cost holiday, tips for handling the temptation to overspend, and advice on how to keep holiday food, entertainment, and decorations on a budget. Stay tuned.

Announcer, Announcement 00:49
You're listening to the Debt-Free Dad Podcast with Brad Nelson. Brad and his co-hosts have experienced the anxiety of living paycheck to paycheck before learning the fundamentals of financial success. They are now on a mission to empower regular people to pay off their debt for good and enjoy happier, less stressful lives. Keep listening for inspirational interviews, tips, tricks, and practical advice to gain financial freedom.

Brad Nelson, Host 01:20
Hey, welcome to today's show, guys. I am Brad Nelson, founder of Debt-Free Dad. I paid off about $45,000 in debt and have been debt-free now for more than 11 years, outside of my mortgage. I've also helped thousands of others save and pay off tens of millions of dollars with the work we do here at Debt-Free Dad. After listening to this episode, if you're ready to make changes and want to take your finances to the next level, I've got an amazing resource to share later in the show that can help you see better results with your finances in as little as 30 to 60 days. So stick around for that.

Brad Nelson, Host 01:54
Hey, Kimberley, welcome to the Debt-Free Dad podcast. So glad that you're joining us here today.

Kimberley Gillan, Guest
Thank you, it's great to be here.

Brad Nelson, Host
Absolutely! For our listeners, a little backstory: we actually had Kimberley on about a week and a half ago, and she's going to have another episode coming up here in a few weeks. When she started talking about her tips for holiday savings, I thought, "Oh my gosh, we need to have an episode for the holidays!" because it's such a big and sometimes stressful time of the year. So, Kimberley, can you share a quick background with our listeners? You've written a book and are helping people save extra money with meal prep and healthy eating.

Kimberley Gillan, Guest 02:37
Thank you. Yes, my book is How Low Can You Go? Nutritious Meals from $50 a Week, and it outlines the lowest cost to meet Western dietary guidelines while still maintaining a good quality of life. I stress throughout the book that mental health is crucial. Having been through tough financial times, I know that sometimes the only place you can save money is your food budget, which can be mentally challenging. The book has a section specifically on Christmas and cultural festivities, emphasizing how important family rituals become during hard times.

Brad Nelson, Host 03:37
Yeah, yeah, I love that.

Brad Nelson, Host 03:38
And when you mentioned having some great holiday tips, I knew this would be valuable. For many families, October through December is one of the most stressful times, with holiday shopping and traditions. Statistics we’ve shared here show that the average person in the U.S. goes over $1,000 into debt just for holiday spending, and some take months to pay it off. So the goal of this episode is to help reduce that burden. Why do you think we feel pressured into this consumer-driven side of the holidays? Is it just advertising?

Kimberley Gillan, Guest 04:49
Yes, Christmas, like it or not, is highly commercial for many retailers, who see this as their peak turnover season. There's an entire industry focused on getting you to spend more. I discuss supermarket psychology in my book, but retailer psychology at Christmas takes it to a new level. When you walk into stores, the Christmas music, lights, and even sales announcements over the microphone create a highly stimulating environment. Studies show this reduces cognitive function, making us more likely to follow what others are doing, which can lead to overspending. Decorations, music, and the whole commercial setting give a subtle push to spend on that "perfect gift" or treat.

Brad Nelson, Host 07:19
Yeah, that is so good, and I completely agree. It's incredible that we put our finances and peace of mind at risk in the name of giving. At the same time, people who are serious about getting out of debt may feel guilt around the holidays because they can’t give or participate like they used to. Any advice for handling that guilt?

Kimberley Gillan, Guest 08:25
I’ll use an example from my childhood. My parents were in such a tight financial spot that one year, they told us, “Christmas this year is school bags, which you’ll need for the new school year.” My brother and I understood, and I remember that Christmas more than many others because our parents were fully present with us. So my advice is to be fully present with loved ones. Make memories together – tell jokes, have fun. It’s about being together, not about buying or eating fancy things.

Brad Nelson, Host 09:52
Yeah, I was fortunate that while we didn’t get a lot throughout the year, my parents gave us a great Christmas. Looking back, I remember the traditions, not the presents. It’s the memories and time together that stick. Can you share how families can build these kinds of traditions and focus on time together rather than the material side?

Kimberley Gillan, Guest 10:43
Every family has the chance to start its own traditions that are meaningful and unique. If you’ve got kids, they’ll understand because each family has its own way of celebrating, whether it’s Christmas or other cultural traditions. Use this opportunity to create lasting family rituals, not the consumerist Christmas we’re sold each year.

Brad Nelson, Host 11:35
And how do you involve kids in that? If they’re used to a certain standard for Christmas, how do you transition?

Kimberley Gillan, Guest 11:51
With my kids, I told them Santa provides one special gift, and we send him a letter in September to help with his workload. By setting it as one special gift, it eliminates a lot of impulse requests. Sometimes, extended family can chip in if it’s a big item. For simpler or homemade Christmas gifts, it can be fun and requires thought but keeps things meaningful.

Brad Nelson, Host 15:20
Yeah, we have a similar setup here with drawing names and one gift per person – it helps so much. We’ve shared that the average child in the U.S. has around 200 toys but plays with only 8 to 10. So being choosy with gifts is a good idea.

Brad Nelson, Host 16:05
Now, let’s talk about festivities, meals, and other holiday spending. What are some tips for saving on things like eating out or holiday meals at home?

Kimberley Gillan, Guest 16:27
If you’re going out to eat, try brunch instead of dinner, skip alcohol, and let kids try adult meals instead of pricey kid options. At home, spread the catering among family – ask guests to bring a dish. Avoid foods that retailers push heavily, like turkey, and save by buying those items after the holidays when they’re discounted.

Brad Nelson, Host 21:28
So true. I’ve joked about celebrating Christmas after the holidays for those post-sale discounts! Now, what about decorations and activities? Any advice on saving there?

Kimberley Gillan, Guest 22:06
Yes, set up visually appealing decorations that give a dopamine boost. We have a tradition around decorating the tree in early December. For less waste, reuse boxes and bags yearly – it’s quick, and it reduces wrapping paper waste. It also gives us time each year to get creative with ribbons and tags.

Brad Nelson, Host 25:12
Great tips, and reminders to keep costs low. Holiday expenses add up quickly. Any final tips before we let you go?

Kimberley Gillan, Guest 25:43
One last tip: consider an alcohol-free Christmas. If your family has struggled with alcohol over the holidays, try non-alcoholic versions of favorite drinks or lighter options like spritzes. It’s another way to save and keeps things light and festive.

Brad Nelson, Host 27:04
And finally, how can we reduce holiday stress overall? Between expenses, time, and shopping, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Kimberley Gillan, Guest 27:23
Start early and stick to a plan. If you’ve got your gifts planned out before December, you’ll have more time to enjoy the season. Also, create traditions that bring you joy – like sharing a special ornament with friends or family. These small, meaningful rituals are a source of holiday magic.

Brad Nelson, Host 29:14
Thank you so much, Kimberley! Where can listeners find out more about you?

Kimberley Gillan, Guest 29:22
I’ll be posting an article on saving for Christmas on my website, kimberleygillan.com. My book, How Low Can You Go? Nutritious Meals from $50 a Week, also includes a section on cultural celebrations like Christmas.

Brad Nelson, Host 29:52
Awesome! Thanks, Kimberley, for sharing such valuable tips and reminders this season. It’s been great having you on.

Announcer, Announcement 31:57
Thanks for listening to the Debt-Free Dad Podcast! Connect with us on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram – just search Debt-Free Dad. If you found value in today's episode, please leave us a rating and review. For resources, show notes, and links mentioned today, visit debtfreedad.com. Catch you next week!

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