Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, but it can also be a stressful one if you don’t plan ahead and stick to a budget. According to a survey, American families plan to spend $1,300 on Christmas this year. That’s a lot of money, especially if you don’t have enough savings or income to cover it.
But don’t worry, you can still have a merry Christmas without breaking the bank or going into debt. In this blog post, we’ll share some tips on how to create a Christmas budget and actually stick to it. You’ll learn how to:
- Develop a gift-giving philosophy that aligns with your values and goals
- Budget for all the expenses related to Christmas, including gifts, food, travel, and decor
- Track your spending and adjust your budget as needed
- Save money on gifts and other items by shopping smart and being creative
- Rein in other spending and find extra money to fund your Christmas budget
- Enjoy the season without feeling guilty or stressed about money
Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!
Develop a Gift-Giving Philosophy
Before you start making a list and checking it twice, you need to think about why you’re buying presents in the first place.
What does giving mean to you?
Is it about finding the perfect presents?
Do you hope to impress others with how much you spend on them?
Or do you feel obligated to buy for everyone?
These motivations can influence how you view the season and how much you spend. They can also lead to overspending and debt if you’re not careful. That’s why you need to create your own gift-giving philosophy that reflects your values and goals.
A gift-giving philosophy is a set of principles or guidelines that help you decide who to buy for, what to buy, and how much to spend. It can also help you communicate your expectations and boundaries with your loved ones. For example, you might decide to:
- Only buy for your immediate family and close friends
- Set a dollar amount limit per person or per family
- Choose quality over quantity and focus on meaningful gifts
- Opt for experiences over things and give vouchers, memberships, or tickets
- Make homemade gifts or offer your skills or services
- Do a secret Santa or a gift exchange with a group of people
- Donate to a charity or a cause in someone’s name
Whatever your gift-giving philosophy is, make sure it’s realistic, affordable, and consistent. And don’t be afraid to say no or to change your mind if something doesn’t work for you. Remember, it’s the thought that counts, not the price tag.
Budget for All the Expenses Related to Christmas
Once you have a clear idea of your gift-giving philosophy, you can start making a budget for all the expenses related to Christmas. A budget is a plan for your money that shows how much you earn, how much you spend, and how much you save. It helps you stay on track and avoid overspending or going into debt.
To make a Christmas budget, you need to:
- List your income. This is the money you expect to receive between now and Christmas, including your regular paychecks, bonuses, side hustles, or any other sources of income.
- List your expenses. These are the things you need to pay for between now and Christmas, including your regular bills (rent, utilities, etc.), your essential needs (food, gas, etc.), and your Christmas-related costs (gifts, food, travel, decor, etc.).
- Subtract your expenses from your income to get your balance. This is the money you have left over after paying for everything. Ideally, you want this number to be positive, meaning you have more income than expenses. If it’s negative, meaning you have more expenses than income, you need to either cut some spending or increase your income to balance it out.
- Allocate your balance to your savings or debt. If you have a positive balance, you can use it to boost your savings or pay off your debt. If you’re following the Baby Steps, you can use it to fund your emergency fund, pay off your debt snowball, or invest for retirement. If you have a negative balance, you need to find ways to cover it without borrowing money or using credit cards.
To make your budgeting easier, you can use a tool like EveryDollar, which lets you create and track your budget online or on your phone. You can also use our Christmas Present Planner to list all the people you want to buy for, what you want to buy, and how much you want to spend. This will help you stay organized and stick to your gift-giving philosophy.
Track Your Spending and Adjust Your Budget as Needed
Making a budget is one thing, but sticking to it is another. That’s why you need to track your spending and adjust your budget as needed. Tracking your spending means keeping track of every dollar you spend and comparing it to your budget. This will help you see where your money is going and where you might need to make some changes.
To track your spending, you can use the premium features of EveryDollar, which let you connect your budget to your bank account and stream your transactions straight into your budget. You just have to drag and drop them into the right budget line. This will save you time and hassle and give you more control over your money.
If you notice that you’re spending more or less than you planned on some categories, you can adjust your budget accordingly. For example, if you find a great deal on a gift and spend less than you budgeted, you can use the extra money to buy something else or to save more. Or if you have an unexpected expense, like a car repair or a medical bill, you can cut back on some other areas or find more money to cover it.
The key is to be flexible and realistic with your budget. Don’t be too rigid or too loose with your spending. And don’t be afraid to make changes as you go along. Your budget is not set in stone, it’s a living document that reflects your current situation and goals.
Save Money on Gifts and Other Items by Shopping Smart and Being Creative
One of the best ways to stick to your Christmas budget and avoid debt is to save money on gifts and other items by shopping smart and being creative. There are many ways to do this, such as:
- Shopping early. This will give you more time to compare prices, find deals, and avoid last-minute stress and impulse buys.
- Shopping online. This will save you gas, parking, and time. You can also use cashback sites, coupon codes, and free shipping offers to save more money.
- Shopping secondhand. You can find gently used or even new items at thrift stores, consignment shops, or online marketplaces for a fraction of the cost.
- Shopping local. You can support small businesses and artisans in your community and find unique and quality gifts that you won’t find anywhere else.
- Shopping with cash. This will help you stick to your budget and avoid overspending or using credit cards. You can use the envelope system to set aside cash for each category and only spend what you have.
- Making gifts. You can use your skills or talents to make homemade gifts, such as baked goods, crafts, or DIY projects. You can also offer your services, such as babysitting, cleaning, or tutoring, as gifts.
- Regifting. You can give away something you already have or something you received but don’t need or want. Just make sure it’s in good condition and appropriate for the recipient.
These are just some of the ways you can save money on gifts and other items. Be creative and have fun with it. Remember, it’s not about how much you spend, but how much you care.
Rein in Other Spending and Find Extra Money to Fund Your Christmas Budget
Another way to stick to your Christmas budget and avoid debt is to rein in other spending and find extra money to fund your Christmas budget. This means cutting back on some of the things you normally spend money on and looking for ways to increase your income. For example, you can:
- Cut back on eating out, entertainment, subscriptions, or other non-essential expenses. You can cook at home, watch movies on Netflix, or enjoy free activities with your family and friends.
- Sell some of your stuff. You can declutter your home and make some extra cash by selling your unwanted or unused items online or at a garage sale.
- Pick up a side hustle. You can use your skills or hobbies to make some extra money by freelancing, tutoring, pet sitting, or doing odd jobs.
- Ask for a raise or a bonus. If you’ve been working hard and adding value to your company, you can ask for a raise or a bonus to boost your income.
- Work overtime or extra hours. If you have the opportunity and the energy, you can work overtime or extra hours at your job to earn more money.
These are just some of the ways you can rein in other spending and find extra money to fund your Christmas budget. Be resourceful and proactive. Every dollar counts.
Enjoy the Season Without Feeling Guilty or Stressed About Money
The last and most important tip on how to set a Christmas budget and enjoy the festive season without debt is to enjoy the season without feeling guilty or stressed about money. Christmas is not about how much you spend, but how much you love. It’s about celebrating the birth of Jesus, spending time with your loved ones, and sharing your blessings with others.
Don’t let money ruin your joy or peace. Don’t compare yourself to others or try to keep up with the Joneses. Don’t feel pressured to buy things you can’t afford or don’t need. Don’t let debt or bills overshadow your gratitude or generosity.
Instead, focus on the true
Source: Bing