Holiday Budget Worksheet: Keep Your Finances On Track This Season

Manage your holiday finances with our Holiday Budget Worksheet to help you plan gifts, travel, food, decor, and more so you can stay organized all season long.

The holiday season is full of joy, celebration, and – let’s be honest – expenses that can add up quickly. Between gifts, travel, food, and festive activities, it’s easy to lose track of spending and start the new year with more financial stress than you planned for.

That’s why A+FCU created the Holiday Budget Worksheet, your go-to guide for planning, tracking, and staying in control of your seasonal spending.

Why A Holiday Budget Matters

The holidays aren’t just expensive, they’re unpredictable. Last-minute purchases, impulse gifting, extra trips to the store, and unexpected events can throw even the best budget of course.

With a clear plan, your money goes farther, and you get to enjoy more of what truly matters – time with family and friends.

How To Use The Holiday Budget Worksheet

The worksheet breaks your seasonal spending into six main categories:

1. Gifts

Make a list of everyone you plan to shop for, set a spending limit, and track what you actually spend. This helps prevent those small “just one more thing” purchases from snowballing.

2. Travel

Whether you’re staying local or flying across the country, plan for transportation, lodging, gas, and meals along the way and throughout your stay.

3. Food

Holiday meals, baking ingredients, potlucks, and party snacks can get pricey. Track both planned and actual costs to stay on target.

4. Decor

From lights and ornaments to wreaths and wrapping paper, decor can sneak into your budget. This section helps you rein it in.

5. Entertainment

Parades, festivals, concerts, movie nights, and community events – this category helps you plan for all the fun without overspending.

6. Other

Every family has unique traditions. This catch-all category keeps you covered for anything that doesn’t fit in the boxes above.

Each section includes space for your planned and actual spending, plus subtotals to help you stay aligned with your Total Holiday Spending Budget at the top of the worksheet.

Tips For Making The Most Of Your Holiday Budget

• Start early. Planning ahead helps you find deals and avoid last-minute splurges.
• Be realistic. Overestimating your budget is better than underestimating it.
• Track as you go. A budget only works if you use it! Update it throughout the season.
• Look for ways to save. Use coupons, compare prices, or consider DIY gifts for a personal touch.
• Review at the end. Understanding where your money went can help you set an even better budget next year.