4-Week Holiday Savings Plan
Use these week-by-week ideas to minimize the damage to your bank account.
Four Weeks to Go: Make a Budget
Make a list: Group all of your gift recipients into tiers. “Tier one can be members of your family, tier two those who get a smaller gift,
and tier three those who don’t have to get a gift,” recommends Ben Hecht of the nonprofit lifestyle and personal-finance site,
thebeehive.org.
Set dollar limits: Designate an amount for each group (say, $20 for tier two), and tally them for your total budget.
Don’t forget nongift expenses: Entertaining or buying a new party outfit takes money, too. By tracking spending, you’re less likely to let expenses spiral
out of control.
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