There’s something about this festive season and all it represents that makes us want to shower our loved ones with gifts. Some of us are even guilty of indulging in deals for ourselves during this time. It’s easy to spend beyond your means at this time of year, so we want to give you some quick tips for staying smart with your shopping. DON’T LET HOLIDAY SPENDING PICK YOUR POCKET MIND YOUR WALLET Start by taking a look at your finances to see what you should reasonably be spending. Write a list of all the people you intend to buy for, like kids, grandkids, friends, and coworkers, then set a dollar amount for each. Don’t forget to include small items like stocking stuffers. Once you’ve bought a gift for someone, cross them off your list and move on. Paying with cash will also keep you to a fixed amount, whereas a credit card will tempt you to spend beyond your budget. It pays to know where and when the best deals will be. Go online to check prices before heading to the store. Some retailers might offer coupons or specials to download. If you’re shopping online, use price-comparison sites like RetailMeNot.com or JoinHoney.com to find the most competitive prices. Also, keep in mind that some of the best deals on big-ticket items like electronics might occur as late as one week before Christmas. Every aspect of your holiday shopping costs should be accounted for. That includes wrapping supplies, holiday cards, and mailing costs. This is also a good time to think about all your other holiday costs that aren’t necessarily related to gift-giving but will still chip away at your wallet. Things like decorations, travel, festive food, party supplies, and charitable donations can start to rack up and affect your budget for gifts. Every little bit counts when you’re trying to manage your money. Some of the highest spikes in spending happen during the holiday season, so don’t let it get the best of you. As always, Patriot Wealth is here to help you make smart decisions at any time of year. FACTOR IN EXTRAS SET A BUDGET DO YOUR RESEARCH
POTATO LATKES
INGREDIENTS
Inspired by The New York Times
• 2 large russet potatoes, scrubbed • 1 large onion, peeled and cut into quarters • 2 large eggs • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp kosher salt • 1 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp black pepper • Safflower or vegetable oil, for frying
DIRECTIONS
1. Using either a food processor with a coarse grating disc or the coarse side of a box grater, grate potatoes and onion. (If using a food processor, halve or quarter potatoes.) Once grated, wrap in a clean dish towel or cheesecloth to wring out as much moisture as possible. 2. Transfer to a mixing bowl and mix in eggs, flour, salt, baking powder, and pepper. 3. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan containing 1/4-inch of oil over medium-high heat. Use a heaping tablespoon to drop batter into the hot pan, working in batches. Use a spatula or spoon to form them into discs. Fry about 5 minutes per side, until deeply browned. 4. Transfer to a paper towel-lined wire rack to drain, and serve alongside applesauce and sour cream.
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