Budget-Friendly Holiday Planning Tips

This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through links. I will only recommend products that I have personally used, if still available, or a similar item if not. Learn more on my Privacy Policy page.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

Christmas is just around the corner. If you were really on top of things, you already started your Christmas shopping long before now. Hopefully you at least incorporated it into your budget. In a perfect world you would already have a nice, little nest egg saved up for it. For the rest of us that live in the not-so-perfect world, there is still time to plan on a smaller scale.

What is your budget?

How much can you afford to spend after all your bills and other responsibilities are paid? You may need to juggle some money allotted from another flexible category to your holiday fund. Use cash or limit credit card use to what you can pay off in a few weeks when the bill comes in. You don’t want to be paying credit card debt off for months.

Be realistic about what you can afford. If you don’t have extra money saved up it may be a very skimpy holiday budget this year. That’s okay though…it is what it is… and the reason for the season is not to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to buy things people don’t really care about and probably won’t remember you gave them anyway.

What’s important is spending time with those you love, reaching out to people you may not see often, and being grateful for what has God has given you. Of course, for kids, it’s all about Santa and new toys. No matter their age though, they can learn what it is really supposed to be about.

Prioritize...

Determine what is most important to you and what is the least. You may not be able to do everything but if you have your priorities clear you can still implement a great holiday plan.

Cards...

Determine who you will send cards to if you are sending any. Maybe you have a list of people from previous years that you still send cards to the old fashioned way via snail mail.

A family tradition I have with some of my extended family is to write a yearly letter. We reflect on our past year – the things we and our families have done, and get caught up on each other’s lives. It is typed and put inside a card.

Another option, which is free, is to send a card and letter through email.

Gifts...

Decide who you are going to give gifts to. Maybe you only buy gifts for immediate family. Some families pull names out of hats and only purchase a gift for one person. Do you like to give something to your child’s teacher? Mail person? Garbage collector? Do you participate in a charity gift program to sponsor a deserving child or family?

Determine what you are going to give each person on your list. If you don’t know what to give someone, get ideas first by asking them, or someone close to them, that knows what they might like or what they need. Try to think about what things that person likes or has an interest in. Maybe you know they actually have a need for something that will help them to enhance their lives.

Holiday Planning Gifts...

Some ideas:

In this day and age where consumerism has overstuffed our homes a gift of an experience is a nice alternative. Some examples here are theater tickets, tickets to a hockey game, a gift card for a nice restaurant or a spa day.
Consumables – things that can be consumed, like food, will not end up being clutter if they are selected to suit the person you are giving them too. Be aware of any allergies or sensitivities or preferences they may have. (I always love a good bottle of red wine.)
A gift basket with a variety of small items. The “basket” can be any type of container that they will be able to use.
Homemade gifts can be very special to receive. Are you creative or have a skill? Are you a baker? A knitter or sewer? Maybe you have a skill making things with wood or metal. Jewelry? Are you an artist or photographer?
Finally, for that hard-to-buy-for person, a gift card at their favourite store can be a thoughtful gift. They can put it towards a more expensive item and get exactly what they want. You won’t have to worry about returning anything. (I love receiving gift cards for my favourite store.)

Holiday Planning Food and Events...

There are always places to go during the holiday – work Christmas parties, family dinners, school plays, church services and parties with friends. There may even be some special theater productions you want to go to. Are you going to be a host or just a guest?

If you are going to be hosting, plan a menu according to your budget – appetizers or sit down meal? How many people will be coming? Will they be bringing anything to contribute?

If you are going to be a guest, what will you bring as a contribution or hostess gift? Are you going to cook or bake something? Buy a bottle of wine? Put that in your budget.

If you are going to a fancy event, what are you going to wear? Hopefully you have something suitable already hanging in your closet. If not, maybe you have a friend in the same size that has something you can borrow. If you absolutely must buy something shop the thrift stores first. You may luck out and get a great quality item at a fraction of the original cost.

Decorations...

Do you decorate your home for the holidays? Do you just put up a tree or do you go all out and do the whole house? Are you just decorating inside or are you going to do anything outside too?

If this isn’t your first year decorating in your home you probably have a ton of decorations left from previous years. Now is the time to go through them and assess what you want to use this year, and if there is anything you know you don’t love and aren’t going to use you can get rid of it.

Kids are very creative and usually love to make Christmas decorations. Over the years, my own kids contributed to the Christmas tree ornaments that they made at school. If you like the old-fashioned homey look you can make your own decorations – popcorn and cranberry garlands, Christmas balls, sparkly pine cones or anything else you are inspired to make.

I usually like to get at least one new, special tree ornament a year, preferably from a craft show or church or school bazaar. After so many years you have to start being more selective and get rid of some to make room for the new or… be content with what you have.