Budget for the Holidays

I cannot believe that we only have 9 Saturdays before Christmas, crazy! The holidays are such a fun and exciting time of year but it can also be very stressful with all the presents to buy. I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to go broke around Christmas or have to rack up your credit cards just because it’s the holidays. It’s all about making a plan and today is the day to start! My family always makes fun of me because I ask for their Christmas list way far in advance but hey that’s who I am. This is how I survive the Christmas blues. Starting in September, I write down a list of people we need to buy for plus the extra’s that always come up like those Christmas parties you don’t expect to go to that ask for you to bring a present, etc. I then assign a set budget amount for the individuals on my list (yes family you are assigned a number, sorry not sorry). I add up my “Christmas” budget and divide by the number of months left until Christmas, I then include that amount in our monthly budget so my budget and wallet aren’t shocked when it comes December. And yes you guessed it I start buying Christmas presents in September, if you don’t wish to start buying Christmas in September set the money aside that  you budgeted each month and when you purchase something pay it off with what you have saved.

Another great idea if you are tight this year is to make homemade presents; sometimes personal gifts are so much more meaningful and make for the perfect present.

 
No one should have to keep paying for Christmas in April and months beyond that. The key though is to plan ahead, make this Christmas the year you don’t go broke!