Success StoryStretching Your Holiday Dollar



Stretching Your Holiday Dollar

Author: Nanette Banks

Planning Unit: Letcher County CES

Major Program: Securing Financial Stability (general)

Plan of Work: Healthy People, Healthy Economy

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Holidays are often an exciting time of the year.  However, the holidays can also represent added stress due to holiday spending.  Many individuals, families and households neglect budgeting for holiday spending. To assist individuals in understanding and responding to financial stress resulting from holiday expenses, the Letcher County Extension Office hosted Stretching Your Holiday Dollar financial program for the Letcher County Extension Homemakers.  Emphasis was placed on understanding how implementing holiday budgeting and other cost-saving strategies can help individuals to reduce spending and financial stress.  Thirty seven consumers participated in the workshop.  Participants were surveyed following the class and 100% indicated they had identified money management or cost-saving strategies for their family and increased their confidence in handling money issues or specific financial matters.  100% of participants identified at least one specific saving or wealth-related goal for their family and 97% plan to take action steps toward implementing at least one financial management strategy presented during this program. Some comments from participants included: “I really want to make many of the gifts we have seen today- I do give lots of food gifts, so I can fit it in”, “I plan to make a budget and use cash instead of credit”,  and “ Buy presents with a budget and homemade presents are sometimes better”.






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