So many of us are guilty of overspending during the holidays; the gifts, the outfits, the events, the food. All of this spending can quickly spiral out of control, turning what should be a joyous season into a stressful one. This is especially true if we start early and don’t keep track of what we’ve purchased. This year, keep the stress at bay with these holiday budget planning tips.

Set a budget – and stick to it! This should always be the first order of business. Take a realistic look at your bank account and set a total that you can spend without setting yourself up for a massive bill once the holidays are over. Set an amount for each person you need to buy for and stick to it.

A great way to do this is with the envelope system. Once you’ve set an amount, put that amount in an envelope with the receiver’s name on it. Once the envelope is empty, that person is done.

Keep a list. All too often we buy, assume we are finished, and then see ‘that perfect gift’ that so-and-so just can’t live without. Trust us, they can. Keep a list of what you’ve purchased for each person, and consult it when you’re wondering if you have ‘enough’.

Go DIY. Personal, hand-made items are often far more special than something purchased from a store. Take advantage of the countless boards on Pinterest and make some gifts. Just be careful, some DIY gifts are actually pretty costly, so just price out the items before diving in.

Host a potluck. It isn’t just the gift giving that adds up around the holidays. Hosting a big party and providing food for all of your guests can get pretty costly. This year, instead of handling all of the food yourself, ask guests to bring their favourite holiday dish. This not only spreads the spending around, it may just open your eyes to new recipes to add to your cookbook!

Start saving now for next year. Now is the time to start thinking about saving up for next year. Once the holidays end, start putting away even just a few dollars a week – once next November rolls around, you’ll have an impressive little nest egg from which to draw.

Have a plan to deal with holiday debt. If you know that, no matter what you do, your budget won’t be able to handle the extra spending, and your credit will take a major hit, have a plan in place to deal with the debt.  Get in touch with a financial specialist to discuss all of the options available to you and get ready to start 2017 off on fresh financial footing.

At DebtCare, we know how tough the holidays can be when money is a concern. Let us help.

Get in touch today to find out about strategies to deal with debt before it gets any worse. 1-888-890-0888.