Three Ways to Avoid the Pitfalls of Holly De'Binge and A'Nita Resolution

As merry as the holiday season is, it can be cursed. The numbers on our scales increase and conversely, the numbers in our bank accounts decrease-a month filled with expiration dates for both diets and budgets.

It's around Thanksgiving, when what little remained of our New Year's resolutions (which Halloween hasn't already ruined), totally go out the window. Between family and work expectations, there's "one" pot luck here and "only one" dinner there, with "just one" $20 White Elephant to save money and still celebrate the holidays here and "only one" more there...

Except that I have like, five $20 White Elephants for people I barely know. That's $100 dollars on gifts for strangers, probably in need of nothing more than attention.

REDEFINE

The annual choir of voices that denounce the commercialization of the holiday season, is as much a tradition as the "Naked Santa" runs. As Michael Jackson taught, change starts "with the man in the mirror." It's all about taking a perfect selfie and then making an internal change.

The best holiday memories aren't gifts, they are the experiences we have with friends and family. Redefine what the holidays mean and implement that new meaning to include less commercialism; less eating and less spending. Seek ways to have more meaningful experiences with loved ones and you're sure to enjoy a better holiday than any Apple watch could buy.

Follow in Thanksgiving's footsteps and do a Christmas Day run, or any other physical activity with friends and family, such as biking or hiking. Embrace your spirituality with your best peeps and do yoga. Volunteer at a food shelter. Do your best "Secret Santa" impression and quietly drop homemade cookies at your neighbor's door (this may require eating a few yourself ). Spread cheer at your lo- cal alternative, retirement community. Many older LGBT were shunned from their families, long before the widespread acceptance we have today.

MEDITATE

There's a reason some of the most successful people in the world meditate, such as Oprah, Bill Gates and the ever-beautiful Ricky Martin... because it works. For us, meditation offers meaningful quiet times for reflection and a resolve to reach our goals-these include both health and financial goals.

When the hustle and bustle is too much and it seems your only recourse is eat- ing or spending, meditate for five minutes. Sit in a quiet spot, close your eyes and just focus on your breath. Your high stress-level and blood pressure will disappear and you can reaffirm your commitment to your health and financial goals.

ABSTAIN

As hard as it may seem, our most powerful tool to stick with our health and money goals is the word "no." As David often says, "One of the best ways to say, yes... is to say, no!" One of the reasons this time of year is hard for so many is because they're in conflict with who they are, or want to be and who they feel compelled to be for the holidays. They're forced into inauthenticity, much like Madonna's former British accent.

Embrace the power of saying "no" to every Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday and kindergarten graduation, because, we can't celebrate everyone's everything and reach our goals. Embrace the power of "no" and stay on track to becoming your best you.

FOR PRACTICE, REPEAT THE FOLLOWING OUT LOUD:

� "No, I don't want to contribute 'just $20' to the office potluck, to eat
store brand cookies and questionably prepared seven-layer dip."

� "No, I don't want another slice of mistletoe-infused cheesecake that
will increase the amount of Gun Oil required to heave on these jeans."

� "No, I won't participate in a baker's dozen gift exchanges because I
choose to pay off the credit card debt I've had for the last 20,000
Christmases."

� Or, better yet, simply learn to say, "No, thank you."

With these three tips, you'll skate through the rest of this holiday season better than Nancy Kerrigan through the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

The Debt Free Guys' work has been syndicated on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider and Time's Money Magazine and we've been featured in The Christian Science Monitor. For more financial tips, buy our new book, "4: The Four Principles of a Debt Free Life," or read our blog at debtfreeguys.com