Free holiday gift budget worksheet and November-December countdown

Suggestions only. Set limits that fit your own budget.

Set the total first

Decide the total you can spend, then work backward. Subtract what you already saved. Divide what is left by the weeks until December to see your weekly savings target.

Budget categories people forget

Gifts, food and drinks, decorations, cards and postage, wrapping paper and supplies, travel, parties and events, charity and tips (mail carrier, teachers, babysitter), plus a 10% buffer.

Gift list rules that work

Write every person, a gift idea and a limit before you shop. Record what you spend the moment you buy. Check the total every week. Stop when the budget is gone, not when the list is long.

Countdown

Early November: set the total, list everyone you buy for, start saving weekly, order cards and photos.

Late November: shop sales, order gifts early, book travel, plan the menu.

First half of December: mail cards and packages, wrap gifts, decorate, buy food.

Last week: final grocery trip, confirm plans, charge phones and cameras, set aside a quiet hour.

7 ways to spend less

Draw names for the extended family. Set a per-person limit. Give an experience or a homemade gift. Buy early to spread the cost. Compare prices before you buy. Skip shipping with store pickup. Use cash envelopes for gifts.

More guides: https://patreon.com/123black

Free copy on GitHub: https://github.com/BlacksGit/holiday-gift-budget-free