It’s hard to believe, but the holiday season is almost upon us. The leaves have dropped with the temperature and the dreaded snowfall is imminent. It’s a time when you crave carbs, snuggle up in sweaters, and begin the hibernation process.

Unfortunately, we are not bears and we cannot afford to shut down for a few months. At a time when all you want to do is curl up under a blanket on the couch and watch all the shows you missed while gardening, the demands on family, friends, and work are increasing dramatically.

It’s the season of holiday shopping, parties and entertainment. It’s the season to put extreme strain on our energy, wardrobe, and pocketbook. It’s the season to spend.

Before you start making your list and checking it twice, it may be time to ask yourself why. Here are some scenarios:

1. You are invited to a work party. Now the panic begins. What are you wearing? Your first instinct will be to run out and buy a new outfit, shoes and accessories. Stop, ask why? Check your closet first, chances are good that you have a classic outfit that would look fantastic. If that’s the case, why would you buy a new one? Who do you want to impress and do you need to?
2. You are organizing a party. If you’ve ever hosted an event at your home, you have an idea of ​​how much it costs both in time and money. You run around cleaning your house until it’s spotless so no one knows what it normally looks like. If these are the people you are inviting into your home, your sanctuary, do you think they will mind if there is a little dust on top of the mirror? If they do, you may need to ask why you invite them to your home. Now comes the cost of all the party decorations, accessories, food and drink. When you add all that up, maybe it’s time to suggest a meeting at a restaurant/lounge.
3. You need to complete your Christmas shopping. We’ve talked about this before and how easy it is to spend your budget on even a small list of people to shop for. Sit down with your list, assign an amount to each person. Then ask, why am I buying for them or why am I spending so much?

In a world where social media is the standard by which people exist, it’s easy to get sucked into spending. The hard part is identifying if you’re doing it because you really want to or because you want to impress someone. Psychological studies have shown how much of an impact a like or share affects our psyche and confidence. Why is it worth the stress and strain on your wallet?