内容摘要：Elias Fernandez and his stepdaughter Morena break down cardboard boxes they have collected to sell to a local recycling facility, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Elias Fernandez and his stepdaughter Morena break down cardboard boxes they have collected to sell to a local recycling facility, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Examples include going ice skating, hiking or hosting a potluck. You could also gift a photoshoot or framed pictures or digital albums to commemorate happy experiences.Expectations or traditions you grew up with, such as buying expensive gifts for every member of your extended family, can cause stress during the holidays. This is what Bodge refers as “keeping up with the Joneses,” which refers to trying to keep up with the expectations of other people rather than what is realistic for you to spend.

“Sometimes you may have a family member that is very financially well-off and they love to treat you to big, extravagant things. If you’re not in that same financial position, you should not feel compelled to return the favor,” Bodge said.When creating your own new traditions, Watson recommends sharing the financial goals you have, such as saving for a house or paying off debt. This will help your loved ones understand why you’re looking to limit expenses during the holidays.Wills also recommends cutting costs by being selective with your expenses. For example, when it comes to hosting, even having a small group of people can be very expensive if you’re expected to pay for everything. If you’re in this situation, you could propose that everyone brings a dish.

“Think about having a potluck meal for the holiday. Have everybody bring something to the event to help share the cost,” she said.If you are having financial difficulties, it can help to talk about it with your family and friends.

“Sharing about stress can in and of itself be therapeutic for the individual who may be having concerns for that during the during the holiday season,” Wills said.

Making room to listen to your loved ones’ feelings is equally important, she said.tool that can provide answers based on your information.

The AARP also offers awhere you can search for tax assistance near you.

Mistakes can happen to everybody, but deliberately ignoring income can have more consequences, Ringbauer said. In general, if you make a mistake our you’re missing something in your tax return, the IRS will audit you, which means they will ask you for more documentation.A common mistake is failing to declare a source of income such as gig work or selling products online, said Ringbauer. This, he said, should be taken very seriously.