The leaves are changing, and we’ve turned our clocks back an hour which means Fall is finally here. For some people this means watching football, eating delicious food, or cooler temperatures. The one thing that is sure to be on everyone’s minds is upcoming holiday shopping. The holiday season can be an expensive time for many people and establishing a budget beforehand can help!
Here are some tips to help you budget and get your finances in order just in time for the holiday season.
- Set your financial goals. Before you start trying to get your budget in order, make a list of your financial goals you want to accomplish. Remember, your goals don’t have to be set in stone, but identifying your priorities before you start planning a budget will help.
- Plan for your holiday spending. Determine in advance how much money you’ll need for holiday purchases and stick to the plan. Putting back small amounts now will allow for you to have allocated money for holiday spending later.
- Keep track of your spending. Document your income and keep track of your daily and monthly spending. Doing this will make it easier for you to see exactly what you are spending the most money on.
- Adjust your spending habits as needed. After documenting your income and spending, you can start to see where you have money left over or where you can cut back so that you have money to put toward your goals.
- Check-in regularly. Check your budget on a regular basis to make sure that you are staying on track. Keeping a close eye on your budget will help you stay ahead of anything that may throw your budget off.
Following the tips listed above, we be”leaf” you will be able to get your finances in order before the beginning of the holiday season. Happy saving means happy holiday spending!