Whether we like it or not, Christmas time is upon us! That being said, many of us are placing an emphasis on budgeting for Christmas. Personally, I have always spent a little extra if not more than a little at the holiday’s. What can I say?! Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year!
- Make a list – whether it be activities, dinners, hostess gifts, putting together a gathering, cards, apparel, decorations, gifts, or all of the above. Anything and everything that you could even think about spending money on during the holiday’s is worth while to put on that list.
- Check that list twice – Like I always say, you have to check ALL the details! 9 times out of 10, we always miss something when we look over things yet again. I know I do! The same idea goes for making a list as to what you may purchase during the holiday’s.
- Set a budget overall – Overall, it’s important to set a limit for how much you can both afford and are willing to spend on Christmas. Setting that budget overall will then help you to categorize everything else from there, too. At the end of the day, having a budget overall will give you peace of mind as to how much you are planning to spend this holiday season and allow you to budget for other things whatever they may be accordingly.
- Set a budget for each person and prioritize – When it comes to gifts and activities and everything else in between, it’s important to prioritize who and where your Christmas money will go. That way, you can set limits and budget accordingly. While it is hard to sometimes set limits as to who gets allotted how much and what they may get, it’s important to remember that those closest to you are most likely the priority and the one’s you will probably be spending the holidays with. Though gifts are a part of the Christmas holiday, they are not everything and friends and family value quality time (and probably food – say a home cooked meal that they don’t have to cook) over anything else.
Christmas is an amazing time of the year. It is a time of giving to others and ourselves and celebration. Most importantly, Christmas is a time of love and quality time to celebrate the birth of Christ. While not all of my readers are Christians, it is key to mention that Christmas is a true testament to love and giving all around – no MATTER what you believe. Whether you have a lot to spend at Christmas or not, simply spending time with those you love is what’s most important.
XOXO – Katie <3