Holidays are often an exciting time of the year.  However, the holidays in 2020 came with lots of stress:  holiday spending, Covid-19 quarantines, as well as Covid-19 mental, physical and financial stresses.  With the normal no holiday spending budgets, limited or no visits with family and friends; families were stressed to the max.  

To assist individuals in understanding and responding to stress resulting from holiday expenses and Covid-19 related issues the Quicksand Area Family and Consumer Science agents in the Quicksand Area hosted a grab and go “Holiday Roadshow” program to address Covid-19 related stresses.  Emphasis was placed on understanding how implementing a holiday budget and other cost-saving strategies, such as: preparing gifts, decorations and food that is home-made can help individuals to reduce not only financial stress but also mental and physical stress .  Booklets and publications were distributed that included financial saving and spending tips, recipes, and easy crafts to do as a family.   

Follow up surveys from the Quicksand Area counties concluded:  One thousand one hundred eighty crafts were made, three hundred three recipes were tried, ninety six percent indicated they had had made at least one positive financial decision, while 91% of participants implemented one money saving strategy.  A total of four thousand seven hundred dollars was saved.  Some comments returned were: “The annual holiday showcase provides me with new healthy recipes that are tasty and cost efficient”.  “Each year I come away with new craft ideas that I can make and sale to supplement my income”.  “My kids looked forward to the crafts in the grab and go bags”.