How to Plan for the Holidays in July
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Axiom Bank. All opinions are 100% our own.
Summer is the perfect time for beach trips, barbecues and … budgeting for the holidays? While Christmas and Hanukkah may seem far off, planning and saving now can take the pressure off your wallet in the months to come. Right now is the time for you to save now and spend later. We are sharing tips for how to plan for the holidays in July. It is never too soon to start saving for the next season especially when it comes to Christmas!
Save Now, Spend Later: How to Plan for the Holidays in July:
- Start with a number in mind. Make a list of everyone you’ll buy for this year, from loved ones and friends to teachers and mail carriers. Allocate a dollar amount for each and add it up — that’s the total amount you need to save this summer and fall. If it’s more than you want to spend, trim your gift-giving budget or aim to save more each month.
- Track your saving. It’s more fun to save when you’re working toward a concrete goal. Axiom Bank’s mobile app, AxiomGO, features a built-in budgeting tool, My $ Manager, that allows you to set savings targets and visually track your progress. You’ll be less tempted to splurge when you have a clear sense of where your money is going. Every time you pack a lunch rather than eating out, you’ll see the payoff in your account balance — and feel more motivated to continue your savings streak.
- Make time work in your favor. Don’t wait until Black Friday to take inventory of your recipients’ wish lists. Start now, so you can comparison shop and watch for price drops. Sites like Dealnews.com and Buy.com offer discount roundups, and MyBargainBuddy.com lists free shipping policies and coupon codes for online stores. Planning ahead makes you less prone to overspending at the last minute.
- Give from the heart. The best gift isn’t necessarily the most expensive one — it’s a personal one tailored to your loved ones’ interests. A homemade present or treasured heirloom might be just the ticket to making them feel special. And some of your friends and family may appreciate the gift of quality time rather than a physical object. Cliché or not, it’s the thought that counts.
Axiom Bank, N.A., a nationally chartered community bank headquartered in Central Florida, provides retail banking services, including checking, savings, money market and CD accounts, as well as commercial banking, treasury management services and commercial loans for both real estate and business purposes.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Axiom Bank. All opinions are 100% our own.
Melissa is a football and soccer mom who has been married to her best friend for 24 years. She loves sharing recipes, travel reviews and tips that focus on helping busy families make memories.
What a cool app! Another way to do it is to buy holiday gifts starting in summer. My parents always do that because it spreads the spending around and lets them buy things when they see them rather than scramble to find good gifts in December!
I love that they give you an option to save for different areas! I wish my bank offered that. I definitely need to get a head start on saving for the Holidays! Thanks for the tips.
This is the first time I’ve ever heard about this app and it sounds pretty cool and very useful! I’m all for saving money especially when it comes to the holidays! Thanks so much for all the great tips :0)
This is an awesome App! Why didn’t it come out sooner I needed it a long time ago! I love the tips!
That is a great app and this is from someone who starts shopping for Christmas the day after. I love being able to save money and splurge on those who make it to my “Good List.” I will be looking at the app for sure.
Well that is a really cool app that has a very practical use! I love it! I think it could help me a lot in a lot of ways! Thank you for the heads up on it!
This is a nice app for saving. It is always nice and essential to plan your savings. This app has a facility to track the saving too which is so convenient.
That is a fun app. I am so motivated by progress charts it isn’t even funny. I love to see how far I have gotten. It makes it feel real.
These are great ways to save for the big purchases that come later. I really need to start doing this because I am always amazed when the time comes to shell out all of that money. It takes the fun out of it when you are not wanting to spend the money, this is great!
What a great tool. I’m a big fan of money saving apps. Right now i use the mint app, but i’d love to try out this one as well. It’s always a great idea to save early. Thanks for sharing!
It such a great idea to start saving from now! The holidays sure have a way of throwing off your budget. Better to be prepared than spending the first few months fo the next year recovering.
What a great app, I need to check it out! I used to do Christmas savings through the bank when I used to have to be there every week. Now that I’m hardly at the bank, having an app to let me do the same thing but for what I chose is perfect. Thanks for sharing, it really made saving for holidays and vacations so much easier!