I have yet to hear Christmas music in the store, but I've started to see commercials. The holiday season is quickly approaching. Are you ready?
Every year, I say that I am going to set aside money every month so that I have money to buy little gifts for everyone I want to treat at Christmas. And every year, I fail to do this. Throughout the year, I do pick up things as I see them, setting them aside for special people or just putting them into a general "gifting" box, knowing that they will make the perfect present for someone. So it's not as if I'm starting from zero. But I have work to do.
Christmas obviously isn't about gift giving and it's certainly not about what you spend. But I love being able to give gifts during the holidays. I do it because I want to do it, not because I feel obligated. It's something that I love doing. So it's money that I'm happy to spend.
And gifts aren't the only expense that comes with the holidays. There are also special holiday events to attend, and in many cases, holiday travel to fund.
So if you haven't started your holiday savings yet, now's the time. Even $10 a week will give you a bit of cash set aside come Christmas. Yes, it would have been great to start back in January by setting aside just $20 a month, but since no one has invented a time machine yet, this is where we are.
And if you don't have the money, remember, gifts don't have to be expensive. Last year, I put together little baskets of candy and silly treats for my coworkers and only spent a few dollars. They loved it. A cute little bag of candy wrapped up with some pretty ribbon is a great way to treat someone at the holidays without breaking the bank. It's all about showing someone that you were thinking of them, not that you spent a ton of money on them.
Do you set a Christmas budget? How do you decide what to spend on your friends and family?