Hi, Reader!

The holiday season has completely snuck up on me - and I know I say that every year. But this year in central Illinois the 90 degree heat stuck around until early October and yesterday we had our first snow dusting with some of it still on the ground this morning. Which makes our true season of fall-feeling weather approximately 4 weeks long. 🧐

I started setting money aside for Christmas last pay period. I use my savings account in Ally bank that can be divided in categories to set money aside with specific names on it so that I don't have to remember what it's there for! If you've never budgeted or saved up in advance for Christmas, let this be an encouragement to you: there is no better feeling on New Year's than knowing that the holiday expenses are not following you into the next flip of the calendar.

There are two messages I try to hit home and repeat to myself during this gift-giving (but also, heavily marketed) season:

More spending does not equal better memories
​
My love for someone is not measured by how much I spend

The things my kids latch on to and bring up year after year are the simple things: cookie decorating, stringing Christmas lights inside the van, Kyle hiding a stuffed Santa doll each morning, and time with cousins.

Here's My Budget for 2025

This Holiday spending plan can be found in the $9 Debt Free Mom Budget template. I use this to make a list ahead of time of everything I think I'll be buying this season - not just gifts! I don't usually have a line for outdoor decor but we want to do something small on our house! Additionally, we are travelling the week of Christmas on a vacation

with friends that has been paid for and budgeted separately. That's why there's nothing for travel and very little for hosting or entertainment - we won't be here!

Every year my budget is a little different. Last year I had a lot more budgeted for teachers, but 3 of my kids' classes collected gift money at the beginning of the year for all gifts so the $50 is just for Ruby's preschool teacher. Last year I spent more on each kid individually and less on the group gift. This year, we want to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 for the family which is expensive so I reduced the amount for the kids individually. We decided last night we'll be doing the Want, Need, Wear, Read structure for their individual gifts to keep it small.

So take heart. Whether you're focused on kids, yourself, friends, or parents: simple, ordinary magic creates beautiful memories.

4 Questions to Answer for Yourself Before the Holidays:

1. When I get to January 1st, what would make me look back and say "that was a holiday season well spent"? (Include what you want your finances to feel like post-holiday!)
2. What has been the most frustrating part of past holiday seasons? What changes this year would ease those frustrations?
3. What do I still remember about my own childhood holidays? How can I add aspects of those memories into making new memories this year?
4. After looking at my finances, my budget and my goals: I've decided I can spend $________ this year without negatively impacting my financial goals.

Now if that 4th question is difficult to answer, I have some tips!

• Write down every single person you usually buy a gift for and an amount that you would like to spend on that person - teachers, family members, mail deliverers, house cleaners, etc. (Don't worry this can change once you add everything up!)
• List out these easily forgotten expenses with how much you want to spend on each:
  • family photos and/or Christmas cards
  • holiday wrap, cards, tape, supplies, etc.
  • hosting costs: food, decor, drinks
  • family adventures: plays, light displays, tea with Santa, etc.
  • holiday-related travel
• Add all the amounts together for a total "Ideal Holiday Budget".

Here's the important part: look realistically at your budget including how many pay periods you have between right now and the end of the year. Does this budgeted amount fit into your income and expenses? If it does, add that total amount into the budget If it doesn't, scan back through the list and reduce some of your line items.

• Maybe a few of the people on the list could receive a meaningful gift that barely costs you anything. Things like homemade food, offering to babysit for a friend, or printing photos into a personalized book are easily overlooked, but can make for the best gifts.

This is just the starting point. Taking 10-15 minutes to create your holiday budget before you need to use it and checking how doable this is with your other budget priorities will make for a smoother holiday season.

xoxo and happy budgeting,

​Follow along with my Christmas shopping and mindset on Instagram!​

Episode 39: Make Christmas Memories with all 5 senses Want to get inspired to find true joy this holiday season without needing to spend a lot? In 2023, Kyle and I recorded an episode about low cost ways to make the holidays feel rich and meaningful. Listen Here →

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