In observance of the upcoming holidays, all Arvest branches and the Customer Service line will close:
• Thursday, December 24th at 2:00 p.m.
• Friday, December 25th
• Saturday, December 26th
• Thursday, December 31st by 5:00 p.m.
• Friday, January 1st
For your convenience, you can bank 24/7 using:
• An ATM near you
• Arvest Go Mobile App
• Arvest Online Banking with BlueIQ™
• 24-Hour Account Info Line
Simple Ways to Put the Happy in Your Holidays
With the additional expenses and other stresses of the season, the holidays can feel anything but joyous for some people. Financial situations could have changed this year, plans for holiday gatherings have most likely been altered, and emotions are all over the spectrum. Everything is just different. Here are some tips to help make sure the happy is included in your holidays:
- Avoid overspending. Make your gift giving list, set a budget and stick to it. Having little to nothing to spend can be difficult. Consider talking to your loved ones about the need to reduce the amount spent on gifts. You don’t have to give them all the reasons why – just enough so they understand. Who knows – someone else might be grateful to decrease their spending or even take a year off from the craziness of gift-giving as well.
- Give from the heart. One way to save on gift spending is to give gifts you can create yourself. Spend time using your talents or doing something you enjoy, such as baking or photography, and share that in the form of a gift. Think about giving gifts of service, such as babysitting or helping a friend with a project. The time you spend making gifts or providing help will be more appreciated than the time you would spend shopping for gifts.
- Share an experience. Consider taking the money you would spend on gifts and treat everyone on your list to a future “experience” instead of an item. Planning to pick up the dinner tab at your loved one’s favorite restaurant or pay for a fun day or night out, for example, is something that anyone would look forward to. Not to mention, the memories you get from sharing an experience together will last longer than the thrill of opening a new shirt or pair of socks.
- Volunteer. Money or not, you can always volunteer your time. Enjoy the spirit of giving, without giving money. Give your time, love, knowledge and talents to those in need. Doing good for others can help counteract the effects of stress, anger and anxiety while cultivating happiness.
- Plan ahead. Determine what your goals are for next holiday season. Whether you plan to give from the heart or share an experience next year, commit now to saving $5-$10 a month (or a week) for the entire year. This will allow you to be able to handle gift giving much easier next year, and reduce some of the stress.
It’s easy to get caught up in the “give as much as you get” way of thinking. Stressing about the holidays isn’t fun and it can lead to unnecessary negative feelings. By incorporating these tips, you will soon find the happy in your holidays again.
Happy Holidays from your friends at Arvest Bank!