![\"Five](\"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/11\/INT_Holiday_Push_InArticle01-1-1024x894.png.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHoliday stress management tip #1: <\/strong>Control your spending<\/h3>\n\n\n\nCanadians expect to spend more than ever in holiday 2021 \u2014\u202fmaybe as much as 30 per cent more than last year,\u202f<\/a>according to\u202fsome reports<\/a>. Is that a good idea? It depends on your financial situation. Control your spending<\/a> and you could feel better overall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s always a lot going on in our life that we can\u2019t control,\u201d says Dr. Gillian Mandich, a London, Ontario-based happiness researcher and founder of the International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research. \u201cAt the holidays, that\u2019s even more true.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She says research into human happiness tells us that a sense of autonomy \u2014\u202for control \u2014\u202fis a major contributor to happiness. No wonder the holidays can be such a challenge: There\u2019s so much we can\u2019t control, from busy schedules to busybody relatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But we can exercise our autonomy and stick to our budget when we spend on gifts for others (and, let\u2019s be honest, ourselves). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Set a clear budget for gifts and celebrations early in the season and stick to your limit. It\u2019s easier said than done. Maybe you can distract yourself from spending money by focusing on important things that are free, like spending time with your favourite people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holiday stress management tip #2: <\/strong>Stay in control with Interac <\/em>Debit<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen you pay with\u202fInterac\u202f<\/em>Debit,<\/a> you\u2019re paying with real money in your account. This can help you feel more in control of your finances, since you can easily keep track of the actual funds you have (or don\u2019t have) left. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThink of staying debt-free as a gift you can give your future self. You\u2019ll thank yourself later when there isn\u2019t a big January surprise bill waiting for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holiday stress management tip #3: <\/strong>Create situations you can control<\/h3>\n\n\n\nSpending your budget on activities and experiences rather than material things can help you in a couple of ways. First, as research has shown \u2014\u202fincluding\u202fresults of an experiment that Interac shared this year<\/a>\u2014\u202fexperiences often make us happier than stuff. In fact, the power of shared moments and the joy they bring has helped Canadians reach 1 billion Interac e-Transfer payments<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSecond, creating experiences can be your secret weapon for getting some of the holiday chaos under control\u202f\u2014\u202fand creating quality time. Spending money on moments solves one of the biggest challenges of the holidays for some. \u201cOne of the emotional pitfalls that we see over the holidays is lack of presence,\u201d Gillian says, in the sense that \u201cwe\u2019re so busy that we\u2019re not actually enjoying one another\u2019s company.\u201d
Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to round up the whole family for a nice group photo? Or \u2026\u202fdo you just forget to take one in the first place? In that case, you can capture a lasting memory by hiring a photographer instead of leaving things to chance. (And remember that many small business people, like photographers, appreciate receiving payments via\u202fInterac\u202f<\/em>e-Transfer<\/a>!) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always a lot going on in our life that we can\u2019t control,\u201d says Dr. Gillian Mandich, a London, Ontario-based happiness researcher and founder of the International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research. \u201cAt the holidays, that\u2019s even more true.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She says research into human happiness tells us that a sense of autonomy \u2014\u202for control \u2014\u202fis a major contributor to happiness. No wonder the holidays can be such a challenge: There\u2019s so much we can\u2019t control, from busy schedules to busybody relatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But we can exercise our autonomy and stick to our budget when we spend on gifts for others (and, let\u2019s be honest, ourselves). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Set a clear budget for gifts and celebrations early in the season and stick to your limit. It\u2019s easier said than done. Maybe you can distract yourself from spending money by focusing on important things that are free, like spending time with your favourite people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holiday stress management tip #2: <\/strong>Stay in control with Interac <\/em>Debit<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen you pay with\u202fInterac\u202f<\/em>Debit,<\/a> you\u2019re paying with real money in your account. This can help you feel more in control of your finances, since you can easily keep track of the actual funds you have (or don\u2019t have) left. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThink of staying debt-free as a gift you can give your future self. You\u2019ll thank yourself later when there isn\u2019t a big January surprise bill waiting for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holiday stress management tip #3: <\/strong>Create situations you can control<\/h3>\n\n\n\nSpending your budget on activities and experiences rather than material things can help you in a couple of ways. First, as research has shown \u2014\u202fincluding\u202fresults of an experiment that Interac shared this year<\/a>\u2014\u202fexperiences often make us happier than stuff. In fact, the power of shared moments and the joy they bring has helped Canadians reach 1 billion Interac e-Transfer payments<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSecond, creating experiences can be your secret weapon for getting some of the holiday chaos under control\u202f\u2014\u202fand creating quality time. Spending money on moments solves one of the biggest challenges of the holidays for some. \u201cOne of the emotional pitfalls that we see over the holidays is lack of presence,\u201d Gillian says, in the sense that \u201cwe\u2019re so busy that we\u2019re not actually enjoying one another\u2019s company.\u201d
Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to round up the whole family for a nice group photo? Or \u2026\u202fdo you just forget to take one in the first place? In that case, you can capture a lasting memory by hiring a photographer instead of leaving things to chance. (And remember that many small business people, like photographers, appreciate receiving payments via\u202fInterac\u202f<\/em>e-Transfer<\/a>!) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think of staying debt-free as a gift you can give your future self. You\u2019ll thank yourself later when there isn\u2019t a big January surprise bill waiting for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holiday stress management tip #3: <\/strong>Create situations you can control<\/h3>\n\n\n\nSpending your budget on activities and experiences rather than material things can help you in a couple of ways. First, as research has shown \u2014\u202fincluding\u202fresults of an experiment that Interac shared this year<\/a>\u2014\u202fexperiences often make us happier than stuff. In fact, the power of shared moments and the joy they bring has helped Canadians reach 1 billion Interac e-Transfer payments<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSecond, creating experiences can be your secret weapon for getting some of the holiday chaos under control\u202f\u2014\u202fand creating quality time. Spending money on moments solves one of the biggest challenges of the holidays for some. \u201cOne of the emotional pitfalls that we see over the holidays is lack of presence,\u201d Gillian says, in the sense that \u201cwe\u2019re so busy that we\u2019re not actually enjoying one another\u2019s company.\u201d
Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to round up the whole family for a nice group photo? Or \u2026\u202fdo you just forget to take one in the first place? In that case, you can capture a lasting memory by hiring a photographer instead of leaving things to chance. (And remember that many small business people, like photographers, appreciate receiving payments via\u202fInterac\u202f<\/em>e-Transfer<\/a>!) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Second, creating experiences can be your secret weapon for getting some of the holiday chaos under control\u202f\u2014\u202fand creating quality time. Spending money on moments solves one of the biggest challenges of the holidays for some. \u201cOne of the emotional pitfalls that we see over the holidays is lack of presence,\u201d Gillian says, in the sense that \u201cwe\u2019re so busy that we\u2019re not actually enjoying one another\u2019s company.\u201d
Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to round up the whole family for a nice group photo? Or \u2026\u202fdo you just forget to take one in the first place? In that case, you can capture a lasting memory by hiring a photographer instead of leaving things to chance. (And remember that many small business people, like photographers, appreciate receiving payments via\u202fInterac\u202f<\/em>e-Transfer<\/a>!) <\/p>\n\n\n\n