Tips to Not Overspend During the Holidays

The holidays can be a magical time of year. Many people can't wait for Christmas and all of the festivities that occur this time of the year. The lights and decorations can make everything look brighter and happier. There are many parties and get-togethers to go to. Many love giving thoughtful gifts to those that they love. That being said, it can also be a very expensive time of the year!

Many people spend too much money over the holidays, between hosting parties, decorating, and giving gifts. However, it doesn't have to be that way.

Here are some tips to stick to your budget over the holiday season.

Plan ahead. You should plan on putting money aside all year long to help you pay for the holidays. Even if you only put ten to twenty dollars a month aside, that will add up over twelve months. This is especially true for those who live paycheck to paycheck.

When December rolls around, you won't have any money left to splurge on Christmas. However, your twenty dollars a month can add up to over two hundred dollars. If you are able to do more, such as fifty dollars a month, you will have close to six hundred dollars already saved up for the holidays!

Don't be afraid to talk to others about gifts. There are just too many people in our lives to give gifts to everyone. You can't give everyone a gift, or you will end up paying for it for months to come!

So, talk to your family and friends. You may want to do a secret Santa and draw names, to help cut costs. You may want to skip gifts with some of your friends. Make sure that they know that you don't want anything from them, so you won't feel forced to go out and buy something last minute. Only buy for those that you want, such as your children and spouse. You may also want to get something for your parents, but you may not want to do much more than that.

Homemade gifts can be special. You may be able to save some money by making some homemade gifts. Though you may feel guilty for doing so, these gifts actually show someone how much you really care. You took time out of your busy schedule to make something that is just for them!

If you are good with pictures, you may want to make some gifts out of your favorite pictures. If you are crafty, you may want to make ornaments for your friends and family. If you love to bake, homemade treats are always appreciated.

Give the gift of your time. It doesn't cost anything to give people your time. You may want to take dinner over to your friend's house and spend the evening together. Do you have a lot of games? Organize a game night for your family. You may want to babysit for your friends who have young children and could use a night out.

If you don't want to go over your holiday budget, you have to be very careful. You may want to save up money all year long, in order to have some money to splurge when the time comes.

However, that doesn't mean that you have to buy gifts for everyone in your life. Talk to your family and friends. Don't exchange gifts with everyone. Do a secret Santa instead of buying gifts for all of your friends. This may allow you to spend a little more on the gifts that you do buy. You may never know, but they may be grateful that they don't have to buy you gifts!

You may also want to think about what you can make. These gifts can really show someone how much you care because you went out of your way to make something special for them.