Bright budgeting tips
The most wonderful time of year is right around the corner! Your heart might be ready for all the merrymaking, but is your wallet? Follow these tips to ensure your account balance stays as high as your spirits this special season.
Make a list of holiday expenses.
This can include gifts, cards, wrapping paper, postage, decorations, travel expenses, holiday parties/events and charitable donations.
Decide on how much you can spend.
Make a list of those you wish to buy for. This could include family, teachers, caregivers, friend, co-workers – anyone who you want to acknowledge during this holiday season. Then use our budget calculator to help determine how much you should spend.
Bonus Tip: Always add a few extra generic items to your list to cover any surprise gifts that may pop up.
Take advantage of major sales, especially on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Be sure to review these security tips before making online purchases to help keep your money safe.
Keep track of all purchases and check amounts spent against your budget.
Using our My Money Manager tool within Online and Mobile Banking is an easy way to monitor spending during the holidays, as well as year-round.
Before the holidays hit, cut back on little ‘extras.’
Reducing meals out, coffee drinks or movies can really help cover holiday shopping. Better yet, starting to save in January and putting aside a set amount each month helps you stay on budget come November/December.
