6 tips for navigating the holidays if you took a financial hit this year

It's safe to say that this year has been a wild ride and there's a good chance that your finances have taken a hit as a result of the corona­virus pandemic and all that's followed.

With the holidays a month away, this can be an extra stressful time financially with the added pressure of gift-giving and other holiday-related expenses. Brittney Castro, a CFP at Mint, suggests taking time to evaluate your current financial life and how you're going to navigate the holidays.

"For better or worse, this year has created a lot of change in people's financial lives," Castro said.

To help guide you through this, we've gathered a list of helpful tips for navigating the holidays if you've taken a financial hit.

1. Set a budget and stick to it

A surprising number of people don't create a holiday-specific shopping budget, says Jaspreet Chawla, SVP of savings products at Navy Federal Credit Union.

By having a dedicated spending account, you'll likely have a clearer view of your spending — helping to keep your budget in check.

2. Make a plan as a family

Cutting back is a necessary step to take when rebuilding your finances after taking a hit. But in order to be successful in this, everyone should be on the same page.

That's why Greg Klingler, a CFP and director at the Government Employees' Benefit Association (GEBA) suggests that families take the time to make a plan before the season begins.

Some options: Drawing names as a family vs. buying gifts for everyone; setting a family spending limit; creating a spreadsheet to identify where you could potentially overspend this season.

3. Don't forget about non-gift expenses

They include: Gift wrap/gift bags; Christmas cards; tips/holiday bonuses: cleaning crew, letter carrier, building superintendent, etc.; hosting duty: food, house cleaning, decorations, etc.; charitable donations.

4. Buy only what you can afford at the moment

Never spend more than you can afford — especially when it comes to non-necessary items like gifts.

Putting gifts on layaway can be tempting, but Klingler warns that the interest rates on debts like this can be very high. Another tempting option may be to use Afterpay, a payment service that allows you to buy now and pay later via installment payments. However, this method could easily lead you down a slippery slope of debt.

5. See where you can use and earn rewards

Credit cards, for example, can help you earn cash back on your purchases or allocate earned rewards toward your shopping, which isn't typically recommended but can make sense in some cases.

Additionally, if you do a lot of your shopping at a specific store, make sure you're enrolled in their loyalty program so you can get rewarded for your spending and maybe even get a discount or two. These are usually free to join and should require only information like your name, phone number and e-mail — no credit card or other payment information.

Finally, if you're shopping online, make sure you're taking advantage of discounts and cash back offered by shopping portals such as Honey and Rakuten. These browser extensions can lead to some serious savings, and all it takes is a simple click of a button to activate the discounts.

6. Think outside the (gift) box

If you've fallen on hard times financially, the thought of giving gifts this year can be stressful. But remember, not all gifts have to be fancy and new — you can make something yourself or pass something down. These types of gifts can end up being among the most memorable.