Sticking to Your Budget this Holiday Season
Thursday, November 30th, 2017 -- 11:12 AM
-The holiday season is upon us and, for many, the coming months mean travel to visit family and friends, gift-giving, and preparation of traditional foods.The Clark County UW-Extension Office knows that all of these special occasions can be a challenge on monthly budgets. Money for holiday spending can come in many forms. If you saved ahead of time, then you know exactly how much you have in savings to spread across all your holiday activities. Without savings, then holiday spending either needs to come out of current monthly income or borrowed and then paid back, usually with interest, out of future monthly income. If you plan to cover holiday spending out of your current or future monthly income, it’s important to have a budget.
After you have a better idea of how much holiday spending fits within your budget, then come up with a list of gifts, travel expenses, and special activities you would like to do. Prioritize your money to include gifts and activities that mean the most to you and the recipient. Also consider gifts that money can’t buy. It can be challenging to stick to your budget as we get caught up in the holiday spirit. For more information on managing family finances, contact Nancy Vance, Family Living Educator, Clark County Extension Office at 715-743-5121.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.