August 15, 2020December 11, 2024
by Jessica Whitney

Here’s a super simple free Christmas Budget printable from my home to yours along with tips to have an affordable yet joyful Christmas.

Make your list, check it twice, and stay on budget with all the things this holiday season! It’s so easy for spending to get out of control if you don’t have a plan, so here’s how to NOT stress about money this Christmas.

No one likes the feeling of paying off Christmas in July (so not cool!) yet, so many people fall victim to the same mistakes every year.

Stay on a budget but still bring plenty of Christmas joy to your home with this free Christmas budget.

I mean, isn’t it pretty? 😉

There are affiliate links in this post. This means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I might receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

5 Tips to budget for Christmas (Plus a Free Christmas Budget Printable)

5 Tips to enjoy Christmas on a budget this year. Free christmas budget printable and planner Simplified Motherhood

Let’s chat about a few commonly asked questions about Christmas budgets!

How much the average American spends on Christmas

According to this survey from Christmas 2019, the average consumer spent $882 on Christmas (including people who didn’t buy gifts). Across the board, many people created budgets but only about 61% stuck to it.

Additionally, 21% of Americans went into debt during the holiday season, with nearly 26% of those consumers not sure how they would pay that debt back.

Over $800 extra spending is a lot in one month, so if you’re like me, you like to have a clear plan in place to tackle this extra expense without feeling overwhelmed.

When should you start a Christmas Savings plan?

Well, of course, the answer is as soon as possible. But don’t worry, it’s not too late to get started! While I personally believe you should save a little each month, this isn’t always possible!

If you only get a one or two month head start on saving, you’ll give yourself some breathing room to only spend with cash this season.

Tips to Write Down Your Plan to start Saving for Christmas

The first step to staying within budget is writing it down.

What you measure matters. And when you write something down you will be more intentional with your actions.

At the very least, you should include this in your plan and budget:

Who you want to buy presents for
How much you want to spend on each person
The total amount of gifts

And then, once you start buying your gifts, make sure to:

Keep your receipts
Write down how much you spent (even on the small things)
Add up the total

Free Christmas Budget Printable Pack

To help you plan your gift buying budget this holiday, here’s a free printable pack, I think you’ll love! It includes a Christmas planning guide to help you set the vision for your Christmas and remember who is most important. It also includes a free gift buying budget printable and one of my favorite quotes from Brene Brown.

Grab the Christmas Savings Plan freebie here to start your budget today!

What you should include in a Christmas Budget

Obviously you want to include the gifts, but here are a few other items to include on your Christmas list – just to name a few:

Christmas cards (Cards and Postage)
Christmas decorations
Fresh tree
Hostess gifts
Holiday Travel
Secret Santa exchanges
Gifts for kids
Gifts for parents
Gifts for nieces/nephews
Gifts for friends
Christmas dinner expenses
Teacher gifts
Gift Wrapping Supplies
Cookie Exchanges

Christmas Holiday Gift Budget Free Printable. Holiday gift budget. Total Budget. Total Spent. Notes for gift shopping.

How much do we budget for Christmas?

We personally set aside $50 per month towards Christmas for a family of 6!

This includes buying extended family gifts, Christmas cards, and planning for a couple of inevitable Christmas decor purchases. I know I love to buy them, so I plan for them!

Simple Christmas Budget

A simple Christmas budget is to think about the average amount you spend per person and multiply. For example $60 per person x 5 people = $300

Don’t forget to include the items above!

But above all else, don’t feel pressured to do what others are doing. Do what is best for YOUR family – whether more or less!

“Joy comes to us in moments–ordinary moments. We risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary.” – Brene Brown

"Joy comes to us in moments, ordinary moments, we risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary." - Brene Brown

Grab this printable from Brene Brown in the holiday gift pack!

Steps to start and stick to a Christmas budget this year

Download this free budget printable. Easy!
Make a plan using the planning worksheet.
Create a list and how much you want to budget for each person
Write down expenses as you purchase each present aka the Cost (so you stay on top of it!)
Find your total budget for all gifts.
Figure out how many months until Christmas.
Divide total gift budget by months remaining.
This equals the amount to start saving now!
Remember the 4 gift rule if possible!
Have a joy-filled Christmas!

Example: Total budget = $500, 5 months until Christmas, Amount to save per month = $100

Do’s and Don’ts of Christmas shopping

DO use cash only when shopping
DON’T bring your credit card into the store
DON’T be tempted to buy anything for yourself (unless it’s in your budget!)
DO use coupons and discounts
DO use Honey (helps with coupons) or cash back apps like Rakuten (seriously, free cash for stores you already shop at) as you shop online
DO buy off-brand when possible
DO remember that it is not about quantity, it’s about quality
DON’T make a purchase without checking your list twice!

What to get for Christmas on a tight budget

There are tons of DIY gift ideas on Pinterest or these open-ended simple toys might be perfect for the little ones in your family.

Either way, remember that it’s the small moments that last a lifetime, not the actual presents given.

If you have kids, I love to follow the 4 gift rule to limit the amount of gifts I get:

Something You Want
Something You Need
Something to Wear
Something to Read

This rule is great for a minimalist Christmas. The gifts at Christmas are sometimes so overwhelming!

If you’re looking for ways to save money between now and Christmas then the 30 Day Simple Savings Challenge might be for you or this post about 24 Easy Ways To Save Money on a Tight Budget would be great!

What to do when you can’t afford Christmas Presents

If this has been a hard year for your or perhaps you have a new goal of getting debt-free and you just simply can’t afford Christmas presents this year, here are a few ideas to still make Christmas meaningful.

Gift Your Time

I know it sounds cliche but this is seriously one of the best ways to make a memorable family moments. Throw a special game night for your family, binge watch movies all day, or start a new free family tradition that is just for Christmas!

Declutter

I love to do a purge on our toys and clothes right before Christmas time. Decluttering will also help you identify items you could maybe sell in order to make a little extra cash before Christmas time!

Start a side hustle

Here are some great ideas to make a little extra cash from home, even if you’re a stay at home mom! Also, if you’re interested in starting a blog, Suzie from Start a Mom blog has sooooo many helpful free resources.

Make DIY gifts

DIY gift inspiration is ALL over Pinterest. Picking a couple of easy ones can save you on a ton of money, and be fun as well! Here’s a post I love about DIY gifts for kids to save you money.