Happy Memorial Day! With summer’s first holiday—not to mention three-day weekend—under our belts, now seems like a good time to talk about why we have holidays in the first place.
Avoiding use of your credit card will really make you realize your spending habits.
A holiday, of course, is more than just a chance to get out of work for a day or two. Whether we’re commemorating all the men and women who have given their lives in service to the country (Memorial Day), all our freedoms (Independence Day), or the hardworking spirit of America (Labor Day), summer holidays are important reminders to everyone.
We’re inspired to suggest a few financial holidays that we’d like to see. These celebrations would serve to remind us of smart money management practices and how they can help make our lives better.
Credit Score Sunday – Ever wonder why holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day always take place on a Sunday? Maybe it’s because that traditional day of rest affords us the maximum time to think about the meaning of the day. Lots of people could use that kind of opportunity to really think about their credit scores. Credit Score Sunday observances would include accessing your credit report and score online (which you can do 24/7, 365 days a year) and reflecting on what you’re doing right and where you could improve.
Plastic-free Week – There’s nothing wrong with using credit cards, as long as you do so wisely. However, we all might benefit from going plastic-free one week each year. It would remind us that when we use plastic, we’re using real money, and inspire us to think of new ways to use cash judiciously.
Living Within Your Means Monday – Have you ever fought Monday-morning-back-to-work blues by buying something online that you just didn’t need? Monday’s the start of the work week, but we think it could also be the start of better spending and saving habits too. Living Within Your Means Monday would be all about controlling your spending and maximizing your savings.
Live Like a Toddler Day – Ever watch a toddler go through her day? She’s focused on having fun and giving and receiving as much love as possible. She reaps enormous satisfaction from the smallest pleasures and she’s eager to share that feeling with those she loves. While it’s difficult for grownups to escape the serious realities of adulthood, we can still act responsibly while practicing toddler-like appreciation for the good things in our lives.