Although the holidays bring cheer and celebrations, they also bring stress to many especially when it comes to finances. The key to enjoying an affordable holiday season is creating a budget that covers all expenses from gift giving to hosting a holiday party to cooking a meal for all of your family and friends. Sticking to a realistic budget will allow you to make the most of the money you have available and prevent you from overspending. If you plan and create a budget far enough in advance, you will have time to save more, shop around for the best deals, prepare for bills in the new year, and most importantly remain organized and stress free.
Creating a Budget
Start by considering all of your expenses this holiday season. Think about if you will be hosting a holiday party, what you will bring to holiday parties you plan to attend, new holiday clothes, gift wrapping supplies, travel, and any charitable donations you plan to make. Take some time and fill out our Holiday Budget Worksheet to get an estimate of how much you plan to spend.
Click here to download the Holiday Budget Worksheet (pdf)
Click here to download the Holiday Budget Worksheet (excel)
Next, fill out our Gift-Giving Guide to create a realistic list of who you want to buy gifts for and what you plan to give them. Use this guide to stay organized and keep track of your progress and spending.
Click here to download the Holiday Shopping Checklist
