It provides a framework to set financial goals and work towards them.
You don’t want to blow your gift budget all on stocking stuffers and then have nothing to wrap up for under the tree.Īs you start spending, keep track of it to ensure you stay within your budget. For example, if you have $500 to spend and your list of expenses totals $1,000, you will need to prioritize and cut some things off your list. Once you have a list of expenses, allocate your budget to each item on the list. Check out our free & cheap Christmas bucket list activities to help you save money without being a Grinch this season! Be sure to include everything, no matter how small. …and any other expenses you typically have during this time of year. Holiday giving – donations, giving tree, etc.Christmas meals (typically Christmas morning breakfast and dinner).Make a list of all the expenses you expect to have during the holiday season. Step Three: List all your holiday expenses
Once you have a total budget in mind, you can move on to the next step. Consider your income, expenses, and any other financial obligations you have. The first step is determining how much money you can afford to spend on Christmas gifts and other expenses. I have never used a credit card to pay for a Christmas purchase since I started doing this = no holiday debt! You can read all about my Christmas savings process right here. I budget my spending by the week, so every week, I set aside $25 from my spending money to stuff into a cash envelope. Saving ahead of the holidays is my biggest (not-so) secret weapon. Just be sure to use a pencil & eraser, as you will probably change your mind a few times on how much you’ll want to spend on things. If none of the above free printables are what you need, you can easily make your own. 5 steps to creating your own Christmas budget plan