The holiday season is right around the corner, and that means stuffing your face full of delicious foods, catching up with family, and spending more money than you would like! We are here to help you save money and still enjoy the holidays just as much, if not more. Here are a few tips we have to help you budget for the holidays!

Set a limit of how much you can spend: 

Step one of any budget plan is to establish how much you can, and are willing to, spend and try not to go over! 

Make a list of holiday expenses and stick to it:

Whether it is food, presents, decorations, or anything you need for the holidays, you should make a list of everything you need and stick to it. When you are shopping, and if an item on your list is on sale, that is great! However, if something is not on sale, you should still stick to your list because, in the long run, you will save money and not end up buying unnecessary items.   

You don’t have to buy the whole world a holiday present: 

While exchanging gifts is nice, it is not necessary to buy everyone you know a gift. This part will tie into the list you make of what you need to buy. Make a list of people who you need to get a gift for and then those who you would like to give a gift to. An alternate idea to physical gifts is to get a group of friends/family together and go out for a nice meal. This way, you may still be spending a bit more than usual, but you will be able to give the gift of time and enjoy each other’s company.  

 Be a coupon clipper/deal seeker:

Coupons and clearance are the way to go! Clipping coupons can be time-consuming, but worth it to save money.  

Personalized vs. Expensive:  

Some people think that the more expensive the gift, the better it is. This may be true for some people, but never underestimate the power of personalized gifts. A few inexpensive gifts are:  

• Artwork of any kind 
• A song, poem, or any writing  
• Items made with personalized photos. Shutterfly (https://www.shutterfly.com/personalized-gifts/gifts-under-25) has a page dedicated gifts under $25! 
• Jewelry  
• Books (coloring books, reading, DIY, how-to, etc.)  

Start shopping early:  

If you start your holiday shopping early, you will be able to get the pre-holiday sales, and then all of your expenses won’t be lump summed into one month. Many stores have deals before Thanksgiving/Black Friday that most people won’t take advantage of since we are not yet in the holiday mode.  

There is no reason to spend your whole paycheck on one holiday, and with these tips, we hope your holiday is less stress about money and more time to enjoy your family and friends! The important thing to remember about the holiday season is that people will not remember you for the presents you give, but the memories they make with you. The holidays are about family and friends and spending time doing what you love with people you love.   

Happy holidays from all of us, Heritage Bank!