5 ways to stick to your holiday budget

This post may contain affiliate links to products we love and use. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

The holiday season is always such a fun time, but extremely expensive too. So today I wanted to share some ways we can stay within budget during this crazy season of the year.

This week’s video

Things we do to stay within our holiday budget:

• We budget. I know I know, kind of obvious. But let me explain why this is so important. During this time of the year, you will see ads and the most amazing new toy or gadget on every corner of the street or social media platform. And there is not necessarily something wrong with wanting any of those items. The problem is that we usually cannot afford the things we buy impulsively, which means we spend way more during the holiday season than most of us want. So the first thing you should always do, is determine how much money you are willing to spend. What can you actually afford to spend on Christmas gifts? It’s important to know this before you start shopping, so I hope you do this in time.
• We keep things simple. When it comes to Christmas, I have always made sure we kept it fairly simple. No extravagant dinner with items we cannot afford. And definitely not a huge amount of toys for the kids. I don’t believe in having a large amount of kids, so that was kind of easy (you can read why in this post) but still, it’s important to keep it simple. Because what is Christmas really about? Do your kids look forward to the gifts but have no clue what Christmas is really about? Then you might want to reconsider the way you celebrate the season in the first place.
  So don’t make it too hard on yourself. Stick to the simple system of gift giving: Something they want, something they need, something to do and something to read.
• We take advantage of discounts. Okay, this might be more of a tip for the rest of the year, but it’s still important to keep this in mind. Especially right after this year’s holiday madness. Because on of the ways we can stay within budget, is because I make sure to shop sales. And sometimes that means I buy a Christmas themed book in August, to put under the tree (which I actually did this year because last year’s books were all discounted). Right after Christmas, a lot of toys and holiday items go on major sale, so take advantage of it! Your child won’t mind (or notice) having a Lego Advent Calendar from last year, so why not purchase it with a discount right after Christmas?!
• We focus on things that are not expensive. This is one of my favorite things. Because honestly, there are so many things you can do to make the season fun and festive for the kids without having to break the bank. Bake cookies together, play games, make Christmas card, Christmas ornaments, etc. So many amazing things you can do, that will cost you little to no money! So focus on those things instead of the most expensive new toys. Trust me, the kids will remember how you made ornaments each year, but they won’t remember all the gifts they got.
• Keep track of what you spend (for next year too). One of the things that most people forget is to actually keep track of how much you have spent. Was the budget you set realistic? Did you spend money on items you did not budget for but needed? Make sure you look at the money you have spent and what it was spent on. This way it will be easier in the future to create a budget that actually works for your family. And next year it will be a lot easier to stay within budget, when you know how much you really need for the holidays.

So, I am curious what you do to stick to your holiday budget! Do you have any additional tips? Let me know in the comments and help other families to stay within their holiday budget too!

Pin it for later