Save Money During the Holiday Season | Cleveland Bradley County Teachers Federal Credit Union

Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us! And while you are trimming the tree, there is something else you should also be trimming—your holiday spending.

Our team at Cleveland Bradley County Teachers Federal Credit Union wants to offer tips on how you can have a meaningful holiday season without going into debt.

Budget for the Holidays

A holiday budget is essential. When creating your holiday budget, don’t just include gifts. You want to include everything the holiday season entails, such as:

• Holiday photos/cards
• Decorations
• Food for potlucks or family meals
• Travel

Essentially, anything that’s not a normal, monthly expense—that’s a holiday-related expense—should be included in this budget.

Say No to Extras

Does your family often go out to eat or head to the movies to see the latest release? Now that the holiday season is in full swing, you may want to curtail those “extras” for a bit to help you keep your expenses in line.

This could have an added benefit, too. You may find once you’ve cut some extras out that you don’t need to add them back in, which would be a win for your regular budget.

Take Advantage of “Secret Santa”

You are likely not the only one among your family and friends who is trying to cut back and remain within budget this holiday season. As a result, why not reach out to loved ones to do a “Secret Santa” this Christmas?

That way you only need to spend money on one gift for a group of friends or family instead of many. Plus, the holiday season is really meant for loved ones to spend time together—not spend money. So, you are staying within budget while also gaining valued time with the ones you love.

Want to be less stressed financially next holiday season? Visit the Cleveland Bradley County Teachers Federal Credit Union website to learn about our Christmas Club Account.