Hey Taylor – I’ve never survived a holiday season without racking up credit card debt. Are there tricks that can help me? Do I just have a spending problem? I’d love to go into 2026 feeling a little better about my finances than I have in the past. – Emilio
Hey Emilio – This time of year makes it way too easy to overspend. Even people who are usually disciplined feel it once the holidays roll around. I see it all the time with clients. The best move is to put a few simple guardrails in place before things get busy. Set a limit that feels realistic, make a quick list of what you actually plan to buy, and use something that lets you track it as you go. Those small steps can keep things from getting out of hand fast and help you stay in control all the way through the season.
–Plan. The biggest reason there is overspending this time of year is a lack of budget and strategy. You head to the stores on Black Friday or the first week of December knowing you have to buy people presents, but if you don’t have a list of exactly who you’re shopping for and how much you have to spend, you’re all but guaranteed to swipe your card too many times. Start with an amount you can safely put toward holiday shopping. The number might look too small, but that just means you have to hunt for bargains or buy fewer gifts. This is hard for people with Spender Money Personalities, but it’s essential if you want to have a financially healthy holiday.
–Adapt. Once you set that budget, it’s time to change your mindset a little. If you’re used to spending $30 on everyone you buy gifts for, and suddenly you can only spend $10, you have to put some serious thought into what kind of gifts you should buy. Maybe there’s something you can get in bulk where $60 will actually cover 7 people; maybe you have some stuff in the garage that you can re-gift without feeling guilty about it; maybe you can buy the ingredients and make everyone jars of your famous homemade jam. If you’re actually going to reduce your spending, you won’t be able to get the same types of gifts as normal. How can you shake things up in a way that will help you save?
–Earn and barter. If you’re really struggling to spend less, you can also look for ways to earn more. Save your normal paycheck for bills and necessities, and see if some combination of side hustle and swap meet will cover the extra holiday expenses. Is there a service you can provide? A bunch of stuff in the attic that you can sell? If you can dedicate a little time to generating holiday-specific income, you might be able to give yourself the cushion you need to avoid spending your way into the red.
This time of year comes for us all, Emilio. However, the people who know it’s coming and plan ahead are the ones who feel a little more comfortable when it comes time for New Year’s resolutions. Good luck!
Taylor Kovar, CFP®
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
