budgeting for the holidays

How to Plan Your Budget for The Holidays

People often budget for almost anything going on in their lives. Usually, that means planning a monthly budget that covers bills, food, and even entertainment. Yet, people often forget to budget for the holidays, even though they’re an annual occurrence. Christmas is a perfect example. If you’re like most people, you might end up doing some last-minute shopping. Worse yet, you may end up spending too much on gifts, food, and other things.

To make the most of the holiday season without hurting your wallet, here are a few tips on how to plan your budget for the holidays, and here’s what you can do in the event that you incorrectly budget and find yourself in need of emergency money.

Make A Gift List

Gifting is probably one of the most expensive activities during the holidays. So, plan ahead of time because you already know who you’ll be buying gifts for, so put their name on a list. Then, choose appropriate gifts based on what might make them happy. But of course, don’t neglect your budget. Choose gifts that are well within what you can afford. There’s no point in overspending on gifts if you’re going to suffer for it later.

Account For The Little Things

The holidays aren’t just about gifts. There are also a lot of other smaller expenses that tend to fly under our financial radar. Think about it: when you go gift-shopping, what are the additional costs that you tend to overlook? If you’re buying gifts at the mall, you’ll have to pay for parking, gas, and gift-wrapping. If you’re buying online, you’re going to spend a lot on shipping charges. Beyond gifts, you’ll also have to budget for greeting cards, decorations, and of course, food and drink.

Don’t Forget Food and Drinks

That’s right! Many people tend to overlook how much they spend on food and drinks. Holiday season desserts and cookies can get quite pricey during the holiday season. Retailers push prices up a little higher because they know those items will be in high demand. It’s easy to assume that drinks will be cheap, and they usually are. However, adults will want to drink beverages like wine, spirits, and cocktails. Those cost much more than a few cans of soda.

That’s why you need to include these items in your budget for the holidays. They might seem like minor expenses, but don’t forget - you’ll be buying them in large amounts for all the friends and family that will celebrate with you.

Don’t Get Sentimental About It

Okay, so this final tip is going to be a bit difficult for many people. After all, we’re only human! The holidays are a time for lots of sentimental feelings with friends and family. Still, you should try to keep those feelings away from any purchasing decisions.

Quite often, we end up spending far too much on gifts for our loved ones. We do it because there is nothing we love more than seeing the smiles on their faces when they open those gifts. Unfortunately, too much of that will push us well over our carefully planned budgets. So, what can we do? We can try to manage people’s expectations when it comes to gifts. Or, we could be better at sourcing less-expensive gifts online.

When In An Emergency: Title Pawns

If, despite your careful budgeting, you’ve miscalculated how much money you can afford during the holiday season, don’t worry. Title pawns, or auto pawns, can be obtained at the drop of a hat and used to handle whatever emergency you find yourself facing.

An online title pawn is a short-term loan option that allows you to leverage the value of your title in order to secure up to $15,000. They’re easy to apply for and the approval is fast, too.

Advantages Of Title Pawning

Title cash offer loads of advantages, especially during the holiday season. Here are just a few that you’ll enjoy through auto pawns near me:

  • The application process for an auto pawn is quick and painless. Plus, it doesn’t take long for our representatives to approve your application either!
  • Lenders will work with you regardless of your credit score.
  • If the lender approves your application, you’ll get your money on the same day. You won’t have to delay any of the holiday celebrations you planned!
  • You start by getting cash for your car title through an online application.

 

 Title pawn for holiday budgeting

 

Applying For An Online Title Loan

You start your application by completing an online form where you input some basic pieces of information. After submitting this form, a representative will contact you to set up a face-to-face meeting at the location and time of your choice. You’ll be asked to provide a few pieces of information, which include: your driver’s license, the title to your vehicle, your vehicle for inspection, and a blank check to your bank account.

Once you feel comfortable with the process and you fill out the paperwork, you’ll fill out some paperwork and the funds will be deposited directly into your bank account on the same day that you apply. It’s that simple and, even in the chaos of preparing for the holidays, you’re never far from financial relief.

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.

Louis Tully

Louis Tully is a full-time finance writer offering financial expertise to everyday consumers. He understands the core values of finance and used his writing talents to share his own experiences with money to his readers. His articles teach how financial failures can easily become successes by making new habits and creating realistic goals.