Jeffrey D Bakus’ Post

I remember 'twas the week before Christmas, and Ama was thrilled. She had her eye on the perfect gifts for her family, a stunning new dress for church, and tickets to the biggest party in town. But when she checked her account balance, her excitement faded faster than the twinkling lights on her Christmas tree. 'How did I get here again?' she wondered. The holiday season is a time of joy and togetherness, but it’s also a season that tempts us into overspending. Between gifts, festivities, and travel, it’s easy to let the excitement cloud our financial judgment. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀, 𝗹𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘆: 🎁 Set a budget for holiday spending. 🛍️ Shop smart with discounts or prioritize meaningful over expensive gifts. 📅 Plan ahead for January, it’s closer than you think! 💴 Cash over card 💳 at the malls. When cash is finished, shopping is done. Remember, the joy of Christmas isn’t in breaking the bank but in creating memories that money can’t buy. Let’s celebrate with peace of mind and a healthy wallet. 💡 What are your favorite holiday budgeting tips? Share in the comments! #ChristmasFinance #BudgetingTips #FinancialWellness

🎄👻 10 Weeks ‘Til Christmas… What’s On Your To-Do List? 🎅🎃 Yikes, teachers! It’s that time of year again when the holiday countdown begins, and our to-do lists grow longer than the line at a haunted house 🎢👻. Here’s a little spooky checklist to make sure you’re ready before Santa slides down the chimney (or before you scream “HELP!” from holiday stress!): 🍬 Buy candy 🍫 (and try not to eat it all before the trick-or-treaters show up 🎃). 🦃 Plan the perfect Thanksgiving feast 🦃 (aka make sure there’s more pie than problems 🥧). 🎅🏼 Find matching holiday PJs for the family (because who doesn’t need more awkward group photos? 📸😆). 🕯 Deck the halls with decorations 🎄(and try not to get tangled in the lights like a mummy 🧟). 💲 Shop for gifts 🎁 (without maxing out the credit card 💳 because, yikes). 🎃 Survive the spooky season 🎃 (remember, every missing assignment is just a trick, not a treat… probably 🧙♀️). 🍪 Bake cookies 🍪 (and hide a few for yourself, because self-care). 🎁 Find a way to avoid those scary last-minute gift-buying lines 👀🎁. 💰 Set some holiday budget goals (because your wallet should be filled with more than just cobwebs 💸🕸️). 🤑 Start an online business to earn extra income (so you’re the one doing the treating this year, not just feeling tricked out of your time and money 😜💰). 🎃👻 Ready to slay (see what I did there?) your to-do list and earn cash before Christmas? Starting an online business takes way less time than untangling holiday lights, and it’ll leave you with more jingle in your pocket! 🎄✨ Let’s get spooky and start now! Request our blueprint! ♻ Like what you see? Please share! #TeacherBiz #FinancialFreedom #SideHustle #TheCFOTeacher #OnlineBusiness

Back in September, we set a challenge to everyone: put aside €80 a week for Christmas to make December stress-free. We took on the challenge ourselves – though we’ll admit we missed a couple of weeks (we’re human too!). But we still managed to save €760 – and with a bit of clever planning, we’ve made it stretch even further. Here’s our updated Christmas budget: 🎁 Gifts – €400: Thoughtful presents for family and friends. By planning and shopping smart, everyone is covered without overspending. 🧆 Food – €200: Recycling cans and using €10 off €50 vouchers helped fund our festive meals and treats. ⛄ Decorations – €20: A few new pieces to add to our collection, continuing our tradition of a new ornament each year. 🧑🎄 Social – €200: Family outings like visiting Santa with Hugo and a light show in Fota make the season memorable. 🎄 Gift Wrap, Cards, and Postage – €50: Covering supplies and cards, with a plan to hand-deliver wherever possible to save on stamps. Total Christmas Budget: €870 Yes, we’ve added €110 to the budget, but it’s been worth it to ensure we can enjoy a festive, stress-free Christmas. Saving weekly from September has made such a difference – no panic, no debt, just excitement for the season. If you didn’t join our challenge this year, why not make it your goal for 2025? Saving small amounts weekly adds up quickly, and with a bit of planning, you can enjoy a joyful, stress-free holiday season. Shop smartly where you can, watch for deals, and start small – it all adds up in the end! Is there anything we’ve missed?Let us know how you’re budgeting for Christmas this year – we’d love to hear your tips! #ChristmasBudget #HalpinChallenge #FestivePlanning #HalpinWealthManagement Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and not financial advice. Halpin Wealth Management is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

A poem for Christmas. Merry Christmas to my LinkedIn friends. A CFO’s Christmas Cheer T’was the end of the year, and all through the firm, The spreadsheets were balanced (to the CFO’s term). The forecasts were nestled, precise in their rows, With visions of profits and minimized woes. The auditors smiled, their checks were complete, While the CFO savored this rare, calm retreat. No surprise expenses, no red ink to dread, Just visions of bonuses dancing ahead. But then from the office, there came a loud clatter, The CFO sprang up to see what was the matter. Away to the ledger, they flew like a flash, Fearing a misstep that could wreck all the cash. The screen it did glimmer with holiday charm, No errors or warnings to signal alarm. And what to their number-crunching eyes did appear, But a sleigh full of savings to close out the year! With Santa as driver and a team of great cheer, He called out departments both far and near: “To Marketing! To Sales! To Ops, HR too! Let’s streamline your budgets and cut what’s askew!” The CFO smiled, their heart growing warm, As visions of strategy began to transform. For even in spreadsheets, where numbers run tight, There’s magic in margins and holiday light. So here’s to the CFO, the year’s balancing hero, May your troubles be few and your expenses near zero. Merry Christmas to all who drive bottom-line cheer, And to all, a financially sound New Year! Merry Christmas https://lnkd.in/gvQU546e

Christmas On Hold It’s hard to feel the Christmas spirit when your husband gets let go from his job two weeks before Christmas. I know the reason for the season isn’t all about presents and things. It’s about the infant child, Jesus. But it’s hard to purchase gifts for your children when money is tight. It’s hard to shop local when local prices are so high, when you don’t know when he will get another job - or when the unemployment money will run out. The kids are still young- 10 and 16, and they didn’t do anything to not deserve gifts during this holiday season. Will they have some? Yes. But mostly from other family members. Technically my husband didn’t do anything wrong, there’s a downturn in the agricultural sector now, and while he wasn’t the last one hired, he was still ‘the new guy.’ So his job was cut. It wasn’t a job he even liked going to, it was just a job that paid the bills. A regular paycheck, some Saturday mornings, and a regular schedule. Our family will be okay this month, and probably in January as well. But February and March is what troubles me. So, if you want to support our family in this time of year share our business page - D79 Marketing. We now have the capacity for more clients, and we’d love to keep more of our money local. We’d love to shop local in the coming year and support and uplift other small businesses. We do digital marketing- social media, email marketing and digital advertising. There’s even some capacity of logo and brand development. The history of our family is resilient. This has happened 5 times (twice with one company) before to us, and by no fault of anything that we’ve done. Is the Christmas tree up in our house? No. Have the stockings been hung? No. Are there going to be Christmas cookies? Probably not. Has there been some Christmas music playing? Not much. The Christmas spirit isn’t dead, it’s just been put on hold this year. #christmasonhold #christmasholiday

Ready to plan the perfect gift list for the holidays? Starting early isn’t just stress-relieving; it helps you make more thoughtful choices, whether it’s family, friends, or corporate gifts for clients. I’m here to help you plan, shop, and wrap it all up! Do you prefer shopping for personal or corporate gifts first? #MondayMotivation #holidaygiftplanning

🎄 Hey Moms, Let’s Talk Christmas! 🎁 The holidays are magical, but let’s be real—they can also be expensive! Between gifts, decorations, dinners, and that last-minute costume for the school play, the season can take a toll on our wallets (and our sanity!). ✨ Here’s a reminder for all my amazing moms this Christmas: It’s okay to say no to over-the-top spending. The memories you create are worth more than the price tag. Budget for the joy: Set a realistic limit for gifts and stick to it. Thoughtfulness beats extravagance every time. Start planning now for next year: Consider opening a small holiday savings account for 2025. A little planning goes a long way. And remember, your kids won’t remember how much you spent—they’ll remember the love, laughter, and time spent together. 🎅 This season, give yourself the gift of grace and financial peace of mind. You deserve it. How are you keeping the magic alive while staying on budget this year? Let me know—I’d love to hear your ideas! 💕

Hey everyone! I’ve been a bit MIA lately, but for all the right reasons. I took an extended Thanksgiving holiday to tackle home projects, spend quality time with family, and reflect on all I have to be grateful for. I used to be a bit of a scrooge until AFTER Thanksgiving, not even until December. I love the food, family time, and the gratitude that comes with sincerely thanking God for my wonderfully blessed life. I didn’t love the idea of rushing to the store the day after to get more. This year, I lightly embraced an earlier start to Christmas preparations—getting a small start on my shopping ahead of my usual last-minute scramble. It’s given me time to reflect on what I can give: to Christ, my family, and friends, to show my gratitude and love. I baked sugar cookies, built gingerbread houses with my bonus kids, and braved Black Friday crowds while Christmas music played in the background (yes, I started early!). This season reminded me how preparation brings peace—whether for the holidays or your business. Tax season is around the corner, and now’s the time to get your books in order. Reviewing your finances early helps you catch errors, plan for expenses, and stay tax-ready. Holiday Tip: Budget and track your holiday spending. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference come January. #HappyThanksgiving #TaxSeasonReady #BookkeepingHelp #SupportSmallBusiness #MoneyMatters

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the... savings! 🎄💰 That's right, it's never too early to start planning for the holidays! Let's unwrap some tips to make your holiday season merry and bright (without the financial fright): 🎁 Start now: Set up a dedicated "Holiday Fund" savings account 🎁 Make a list (and check it twice!): Budget for gifts, decorations, and festivities 🎁 Stash some cash: Put aside a little each week - even $20 can add up! 🎁 Get crafty: Consider DIY gifts to save money and add a personal touch 🎁 Shop smart: Look for deals year-round, not just during holiday sales 🎁 Spread the joy: Suggest a gift exchange or potluck to share costs Remember, the best gift is time spent with loved ones. Don't stress if you can't afford extravagant presents! What's your favorite way to save for the holidays? Share your ideas below! #HolidaySavings #FinancialFriday #JingleAllTheWay

WOW - Final Friday of November is Here! 🎄 Can you actually believe it?!? 😬 By the time we’re back in the office on Monday, it’ll be December (!!), and the countdown to Christmas will be well and truly on! BOOM! But before the festive frenzy takes over, and we fill our faces with mince pies and all the fun foods/drinks, let’s pause for a moment to think about what we can achieve in these last few weeks of 2024…cos the year isn’t over yet!! What’s the one big thing you can do between now and the Christmas break to move the needle for you or the business? 👉 Maybe it’s about starting 2025 with more clarity—a clear plan, a vision, and focus for the year ahead. We can help with that. 👉 Or perhaps it’s time for a new direction—a fresh start, a career change, or even a leap into something you’ve always wanted to do, something that can help make a difference. We can help with that too. 👉 Or maybe you’re looking for the kind of support that only comes from being part of a community. A space where other business owners get what you’re going through and can help you grow—personally, professionally, and financially. Yep, we can help with that too! Whatever it is, now’s the time to take action. Don’t let these final weeks slip by… Drop a comment or DM me—I’d love to hear what you’re focusing on and explore how we can help make it happen. Now, time for a pint or two! 🍺