Financial Planning Month: How to Make a Holiday Spending Plan You’ll Actually Enjoy

Did you know October is Financial Planning Month?

It’s the perfect time to think ahead—especially with the holidays coming up fast! Instead of feeling overwhelmed or stressed, you can create a simple plan to make your season more joyful and less expensive. Here are my favorite steps to help you get started:

1. Make Your Holiday Giving List

Start by writing down everyone you’d like to give a gift to this year—family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, teachers. Take your time and reflect on who you want to include. Sometimes a handwritten note or a phone call can mean as much as a wrapped gift! Don’t forget to consider group gifts or even starting a Secret Santa to make things easier and more fun.

2. Set Your Total Budget

Decide how much you can spend—comfortably—without putting yourself in a pinch. Be honest (your January self will thank you!). Break your budget down per person and include all your other holiday expenses like travel, hosting, and extra groceries. Even a small “just in case” cushion can make a difference. Remember, sticking to your budget is about enjoying the season, not restricting yourself.

3. Get Creative About Gift Types

This is where the magic happens. In my family, the gifts that mean the most are almost never the most expensive—they’re the most thoughtful.

For example, my mother loves a special dessert my grandmother used to make, but she won’t bake them herself. So, every Christmas (and often for her birthday), I make those peanut bars for her, and she truly appreciates the time and effort. My dad? He loves Crazy Socks—the crazier, the better! Over the years, We’ve built up his collection, and it’s become a fun tradition.

My husband and I love to give each other the gift of an experience, like a spontaneous winter day trip to Niagara Falls, just exploring and enjoying time together. And although I’m not a natural baker, I love holiday baking—especially when I rope my husband and kids into helping me. Our kitchen gets messy, we laugh a lot, and those moments together are just as sweet as the treats we make. And when we are finished we have yummy gifts for our friends and family!

Think about what makes your loved ones smile. Sometimes the best gifts really do come from the heart.

4. Track as You Go

Keep a running list of what you spend—whether it’s in a notebook, a spreadsheet, or an app. Write down every purchase and who it’s for, and if you’re sharing gift duties, use a shared list so everyone stays organized. Tracking as you go helps you stick to your budget and keeps surprises at bay. Plus, it makes next year’s planning even easier!

5. Communicate (If needed!)

If you want to dial things back this year or suggest new gift traditions, start those conversations now. You may be surprised how many friends and family feel relieved! Setting a price limit, organizing a family gift exchange, or focusing on homemade gifts can make the season more joyful and less stressful. And within your own family, good communication helps everyone feel included and prevents mix-ups.

A Personal Note

If you take one thing away from this, let it be this: your holiday season doesn’t have to be perfect or extravagant to be meaningful. Some of my best memories are of flour everywhere in the kitchen or seeing my dad’s face light up over a new pair of wild socks. The best moments are the ones where we’re together, not what’s under the tree.