HAVE A ECONOMICAL DIWALI:THINGS TO DO THIS DIWALI

The much awaited festival of lights 'Diwali' has arrived. The most common things which people do during this festive season is spend money lavishly, burst firecrackers, catch up with friends, gamble or drink the whole night among others. Diwali can be a lot more memorable provided you spend the festival in its true spirit. After all, Diwali comes only once every year, which is exactly why you should go a little out of your way to make it unforgettable.



 

Make a list of things you need to buy
Diwali is the time when you need to buy a lot of things for your family members and relatives. You want to buy clothes, accessories, jewellery, sweets, etc for them. Hence, make a lists of items which you need to buy. It is advisable to avoid unnecessary or lavish items. Money can be saved if you plan your expenses well in advance. Try to make limited number of shopping trips. Don’t forget to carry a list of items you need to buy while you go for shopping. It is better to plan your driving / travelling route as well so you save time and fuel.
Pay in cash
Whenever we go for shopping, the usual trend is to carry our debit or credit cards to make payments. We swipe these cards for all the items which we purchase without checking the amount or bill. It is better to avoid this. It is advisable to withdraw cash from an ATM and then go for shopping. This will help you know how much money you have and how much you can afford to spend. Thus while you are shopping, you will automatically know much money you have spent and how much is remaining. This will also help you in spending money carefully.
To avoid any potential inconvenience, you may also carry your credit or debit cards. But remember to use them judiciously, and track all your expenses through your bank statement to see what has been spent and what’s left to be bought.

Say no to firecrackers
We are all aware of the adverse effects that firecrackers have on our environment but continue to remain ignorant to it. Apart from leading to hazardous air and noise pollution and adding to the cause of global warming, it also has a traumatising effect on our pets. What we need to remember is that Diwali is a festival of 'lights' and not 'noise' and 'smoke', therefore, try and avoid bursting firecrackers as much as possible.

Vacation time
If you are planning a vacation, you should ideally book your rail / flight tickets well in advance. Purchasing airplane tickets in advance is one of the best ways to find lower fares. Prices for flights usually increase over interval periods of months and weeks leading up to a given departure.

Invest some money
All of us know that Diwali is that time of the year, when we spend money on various things. But don’t forget to also invest some money in good financial products offering decent returns. You may invest money in some fixed deposits, mutual funds, insurance products, etc.

Festivals are a time of celebration, family and joy. So enjoy yourself, spend time with your loved ones, and remember to manage your expenses!