MONEY MATTERS

How to Avoid Overspending

This Holiday Season

Planning for the holiday season is not hard, but it will take a bit of discipline. Use these tips to get started.

By Author/Writer

If the excitement of the holiday season usually gives way to piles of post-holiday bills and debt, you might want to change the way you do things this year. With so much emphasis on shopping and spending, it is easy to go over your budget and regret it later.

Doing some advance planning now can benefit you later. Here’s how.

Set a Budget

No matter how many people are on your gift list, your first step is to set a budget. Sit down with a pen and a piece of paper and make a list of everyone you want to buy gifts for. Set a realistic gift budget for each person then add it all up.

Pull Out the Cash Now

Once you have established a total budget for all your holiday spending, head to the bank and pull the cash out now. If you don’t have enough cash on hand to cover your holiday spending, you can’t afford all the gifts you have identified.

After you’ve pulled the cash out of your account, separate it into envelopes according to amount. Label each envelope with the name of the recipient and keep the cash in a safe place like a wall safe or fireproof box.

Check Out the Weekly Ads

Retailers pull out all the stops and slash prices when the holiday season rolls around, which can help your cash stretch further. Watch for bargains for the gifts that are on your list. When you find one, grab your envelope and head to the store.

Check each recipient off your list as you go. After the gifts are bought and paid for, scratch that person off your list and move on to the next one. Continue your savvy shopping and money-saving ways until your gift list is complete.

If you managed to be an extra good shopper this year, reward yourself by depositing the money you saved back into your bank account. Then use it to get a head start on next year or treat yourself to something special. L

OUR SERVICES

• Asphalt Resurfacing • New Construction • Asphalt Milling & Repaving • Asphalt Maintenance • Pothole Repair • Utility Cut • Asphalt Patching • Pavers

ASPHALT PAVING

ABOUT US

Ensley Inc. was founded in 1984 and has remained a well-respected asphalt contractor in the Central Florida area for 37 years. We take pride in the quality of our work, and in providing our customers with sustainable results. Our team has a collective commitment to deliver excellence in safety, service, and professionalism in every job we take on. We offer honest competitive pricing, fair and thorough estimations and believe in providing the most value to our customers. Trust is important in hiring contractors. We seek to see the job from the customers’ point of view to come together to find the best solution for the project. We work around your schedule, completing the job on time, and without interfering with your business. A trusted member of the Better Business Bureau, Ensley Inc. provides a superior service that speaks for itself. Ensley Inc. is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business and is a Florida Certified Veteran Business Enterprise.

WE ARE HIRING

At Ensley, Inc., our success depends entirely on the dedicated men and women that make up our team. We base our hiring and training practices on our sincere belief that an investment in our employees is an investment in our company’s future. We do everything in our power to nurture and promote the talents of our employees. That begins with a rigorous application and hiring process. We’re proud of our culture of investment that promotes advancement through the ranks of our company. A career with Ensley is an opportunity to develop as an individual and leader in your community.

As Florida’s leading asphalt paving contractor, we offer opportunities for advancement at every stage of your career. See what a future with Ensley could look like. Visit www.ensleyinc.com/jobs for our current open positions.