While each family\u2019s traditions can be quirky and unique, the desire to spend time together and bring joy to one another is universal. With a focus on money-related traditions, we asked members of the personal finance media and financial professionals to share their families\u2019 customs and practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many families\u2019 holiday money traditions involve giving to others. However, the gift and process can take on different forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEach Christmas, each of my four children chooses three toys\u2014in good condition\u2014they no longer play with to donate to our church or other local charities,\u201d says Jeff Rose, a Certified Financial Planner\u00ae (CFP\u00ae) who runs Good Financial Cents<\/a>. \u201cI also carry extra $100 bills in my wallet for when we see someone in need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Others similarly carry extra cash to give away, or started a holiday money tradition of pooling their donations to support a worthy cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen we get together around the holidays, every family member contributes $50 and we make a cash donation to a local charity to help those in need,\u201d says David Bakke of Money Crashers<\/a>. The tradition takes on other forms throughout the year, such as buying school supplies to give away during the back-to-school season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finding the money for gifts and parties can be a burden on your budget, and credit card debt often rings in the new year<\/a>. Some families\u2019 traditions center around the idea of finding meaningful ways to share gifts and time together without piling on expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen my sister and I were children, our parents would often go into debt to make our Christmas one to remember,\u201d says Nia Simone, a personal finance writer for Money Done Right<\/a>. \u201cNow, we\u2019ve committed ourselves to only using cash during the holidays.\u201d They\u2019re committed to the tradition and use prepaid debit cards for online shopping to ensure they don\u2019t go over budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simone\u2019s family also opts for DIY Christmas cards, which proves to be a fun family bonding experience in addition to saving them money. And they put some of the savings toward buying big-ticket toys, which they donate to a local nonprofit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s often an expectation of gifting among family and friends, and making meaningful choices with your money is an important part of personal financial management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gifting an experience could be the better option if you\u2019re struggling to find something the recipient will love. People quickly adapt to their physical possessions, and their excitement may fade over time. Looking forward to an experience\u2014or having a fond memory to look back on\u2014can provide longer-lasting joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kelan Kline of The Savvy Couple<\/a> says the experiential gift has become a staple for her siblings. \u201cThese can be anything from going bowling, out to dinner, or even going to a sporting event,\u201d says Kline. \u201cIt’s been an amazing family tradition we love to participate in every year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conscious spending can take on different forms as well. Robert Farrington, the founder of The College Investor<\/a>, knows the importance of saving for college<\/a> and turned the priority into a request for his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOver the last few years, we\u2019ve encouraged our family to stop gifting for our children and, instead, contribute to a 529 plan,\u201d says Farrington. \u201cOur children still receive a few gifts from us, their siblings, and Santa, but the main focus is gifting towards their future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many parents pass on or create family money traditions to teach their children<\/a> about the importance of saving and using money. These skills are often taught through a mix of lessons, practice, and examples from parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Krista Cavalieri, CFP\u00ae, an associate wealth manager at Budros, Ruhlin, and Roe<\/a>, has a 19-month old, three-year-old, and five-year-old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDuring the holidays, when they put cash from relatives into their piggy banks, we talk to them about things they may use money for, such as saving to buy something they really want, or perhaps helping others,\u201d she says. \u201cWe hope that it helps our children grow to be compassionate to others and learn to set savings goals to accumulate wealth over time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the holidays often bring a keen focus to traditions, finances, and charity, practicing and teaching responsible money management is a year-long process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For some, that means looking for teaching opportunities to share with their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Frugal Rules<\/a> founder John Schmoll often uses travel hacks to help cover expenses for his family of five. However, the entire family also saves their change throughout the year. \u201cBefore going on a trip we take the coins into the bank to get cash, and we all get to choose one thing to do with that money while on the given trip,\u201d says Schmoll. \u201cThis helps our kids see the value of saving and how it enables us to do something we want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Others make saving a regular practice by creating gift or charity categories<\/a> in their budget and setting aside money each month. Or, they may have a tradition of sitting down to review their finances or discussing the family\u2019s finances with a partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Commit to Quitting Holiday Debt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Prioritize Experiences over Things<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Give the Gift of Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Pass down Money Traditions to the Next Generation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Continue Traditions Throughout the Year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n