Countdown to Holiday Savings

It’s December, and the countdown to the holiday shopping deadline is on! If you’ve already wrapped up your holiday shopping, congratulations! If you’re like many of us however, your holiday to do list is still waiting for a burst of productivity. When under the pressure of a ticking clock, it can be easy to let your plan, and budget, go out the window. Here are some ways to keep your spending in check, and your holiday happy!

• Make a list. Make a list of everyone you want to give a gift to. Make sure to write down any extra holiday gifts that may be outside your circle of family and friends, such as for an office gift swap, or a donation to a family in need.
• Make a projection. How much money would you like to allocate for each person? Add it up. How much is this going to cost you overall? If the number is too high or scary you might have to…
• Make revisions. After seeing how much these gifts are truly going to cost, it might be time to think of alternatives gifts. Maybe homemade cookies are a more realistic gift than matching sweaters for 10 of your closet friends.
• Make a budget. And shop with it in hand to avoid going off course when something shiny catches your eye. Still tempted to splurge?
• Go credit card free. Consider going cash only! Got? Going cash only is a great way to keep you on track, and gives you a better idea of what you are spending.

Best wishes for a happy (and budget conscious) holiday!