Don't Overspend At Christmas - How To Be Frugal

– Don’t overspend or max your credit cards for the Christmas season!

Don’t Overspend At Christmas – Include Christmas Expenses in Your Budget

I am a list-maker and we live by our budget. If you don’t have a budget at all, please read this and get started now. It is really never too late to get your finances in order.

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It is never too late to get your finances in order - learn to budget. #Budget #Thrifty Share on X

Don’t Overspend At Christmas – Detail The Gifts You Expect To Buy

Each year I use a simple spreadsheet to plan Christmas gift-giving. Planning is done early in the year so we can make monthly allocations for gifts. The spreadsheet includes: the recipient name, the gift I expect to give – or have purchased, the amount budgeted, the amount actually spent and the difference between the two amounts. At the beginning of the year, I may have no idea on what we will purchase, but I do have a good idea on the amount to budget.

I’m kinda geeky with lists, so I also have a column for the status of the gift – blank if it’s what I plan to get, “H” if I have purchased it, “W” if it is wrapped. Then after the gift is given, I use text strike-through to strike-through the line. This makes an easy visual for where I stand on buying, wrapping, and giving.

The spreadsheet also has what we got the recipient last year. Can’t really explain why 😀 except so I won’t duplicate a gift. One of our kids is a DVD collector and it’s good to keep up with what we have already given her.

Based on what we budget for each person, we have a total gift budget. We use that amount to allocate some each month in our household budget so we have the full amount when we need it.

I keep the spreadsheet for each year and make a copy of the last one for the current year.

Remember to include people who you give a gift-tip such as your hairdresser and mail carrier. Also special treats for your fur-babies. 😀

Don’t Overspend At Christmas – Budget For Non-Gift Items

There are many Christmas expenses that are not gifts. These can vary depending on your circumstances.

Here’s a starting point list:

Holiday travel
Cards and postage (I keep a yearly document for this also)
Will you need to ship gifts?
Charity (Operation Christmas Child, church goodwill, etc.)
Decorations
Wrapping paper
Food and entertaining
Clothes
Family photos
etc.

Estimate how much these miscellaneous expenses will be and add them to the monthly allocation. We use an artificial tree because we keep decorations up a long time. Yes, I am one of those people! A couple of years ago, we had to purchase a new tree which messed up our budget for that year. We should have considered a new tree in our early year budget planning.

Don't overspend at Christmas. Learn to be frugal! #Overspend #Christmas Share on X

Don’t Overspend At Christmas – Buy Things All Year

If you run across a gift or decoration during the year and can afford to get it, go ahead and buy while the price is less. I buy wrapping paper, bags and other decorations at after-Christmas sales. This would also be a good time to get that crazy Christmas sweater you wanted 😀

Keep a gift tote or place in your closet where you can keep these pre-Christmas purchases.

Remember to indicate the amount you spend on your gift spreadsheet and household budget.

Make some extra Christmas money with Ebates!

Don’t Overspend At Christmas – Remember The Reason For The Season

My children (they are grown) have been spoiled. Over the years, I did all I could to get everything they wanted. Now I have to struggle to not do the same for the grandkids. 🙁

Society today makes us feel that Christmas = spending. We need to take a deep breath and remember why we celebrate the season. As Christians, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Take time to spend with family and friends. Savor the time you have together.