Make a List Well, actually, make a few lists. This is where any good budget starts. You have to know what you plan to spend money on before you can budget around it. The first list will include all the ways your budget will be stretched this season. Include travel costs, whether that’s hotels, car rentals, airfare, gas, or other expenses. Also factor in the additional grocery budget. If you’re attending someone else’s function, that might mean bringing a bottle of wine. If you’re hosting, it means budgeting for prime rib, a large turkey, or any other favorite holiday dish. Also plan for any last-minute home improvements, extra beds, or rentals for chairs or dishes to accommodate guests in your home, if applicable. In other words, if you’re putting money toward housing guests in the short or long term, write it down. That might mean hiring a house cleaner, having someone wash the windows or hang lights, or incurring costs associated with extra food and utilities.
Holiday Budgeting
for a Stress-Free New Year I t’s that time of year again. The calendar is packed with holiday parties, celebratory feasts, shopping, and travel. It’s a fun time of year to make memories with the ones you love. Nonetheless, the season will be over before you know it, and it’s easy for spending to get a bit out of hand during the flurry of activity. Whether you’re watching every dollar or you just hope to avoid a balance on the January credit card bill, making a budget—and sticking to it—can make the holiday aftermath as joyous as the December festivities. We’ve got some pointers for fully enjoying the season without waking up to a New Year’s spending hangover.
This list will also include the cost of seasonal decorations, new lights, the purchase of serving platters, and gift wrapping supplies such as bags, paper, tape, and bows. Of course, you’ll want to jot down gifts as a line item, too. Also include any entertainment activities for the month, from going to dinner with friends to taking the kids for mini golf. Holiday movie rentals or a trip to the theater, paying for a light show at the zoo or local garden, and hitting the ice skating rink are all part of the budget as well.
Spoiler alert: It’s not really about the money.
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