Prepare For a Year of Holidays

A budget buster throughout the year can be to not properly plan for holidays ahead of time. To start the year off right and keep finances in order as occasions arise, it can be very important to plan ahead for holidays big and small.

Buy Ahead

It’s still not too late to take advantage of post-Christmas sales and stock up on things like cards, wrapping paper and other Christmas themed things for 90% off. Do this throughout the year for holidays like Valentines Day and Halloween too. By thinking ahead, even if it means storing a few things through the year, it’s worth not waiting until the holiday arrives and paying full price for supplies and gifts.

photo credit: Thomas Claveirole
Throughout the year, picking up gifts that are deeply discounted for birthdays or other gifting holidays can take a lot off the bottom line for those occasions. Thinking ahead and not waiting until the day before a birthday or the week before Christmas to gift shop can be a huge help for spending less.  Do what you can now so that when the time comes, you can have a debt free Christmas.

Plan Frugal Birthday Parties

photo credit: Kelly Sue

Birthday parties for kids can be expensive, but thinking and planning ahead for them can keep them fun without spending a lot of money.  Here’s a great resource for frugal birthday party planning.

Even if you don’t have any big parties to plan for the year, almost everyone has to consider birthday gift giving – whether it’s friends of kids, mom and dad, brothers and sisters – working those days into the budget and making sure you’ve considered them ahead of time can prevent budgeting issues when the events arrive.

Dates to Remember

Here’s a list of holidays to help you prepare:

• Valentines Day – February 14th
• St. Patricks Day – March 17th
• Easter – April 12th
• Mother’s Day – May 10th
• Memorial Day – May 25th
• Father’s Day – June 21st
• 4th of July
• Labor Day – September 7th
  
• Halloween – October 31st
• Thanksgiving – November 26th
• Christmas – December 25th
• New Years

Whether it’s planning for gifts, decorations, travel, food, or other supplies for the holidays throughout the year, by working the dates that you celebrate in a way that affects your budget ahead of time, you can keep your finances in order. Set aside each month money into a holiday fund, shop ahead, buy when you find deals.  2009 looks like it’s going to be a rough financial year. Do what you can now to start yourself off on the right foot so you can celebrate simply, frugally and fabulously when holidays arrive.

This article is part of JumpStart Your Economy: Tips For Starting The New Year Right brought to you by members of the Money Life Network.

Check out the whole schedule:

• Sunday January 25th: SenseToSave.com Maximize Your Money, Review Your Exemptions Now!
• Monday January 26th: Bible Money Matters will be delving into the topic of setting up your first budget.
• Tuesday January 27th: FreeFromBroke.com explains why we need a high-yield savings account.
• Wednesday January 28th: PTMoney.com helps us make some extra money (to put in that savings account).
• Friday January 30th: MyInvestingBlog.com gives us tips to finding a fit financial helper
• Saturday  January 31st:  Remodelingthislife.com explores how to prepare for a year of holidays.