Christmas budget planner
Plan what Christmas will cost across gifts, food, decorations, travel and events, then compare your budget with what you spent.
Total Christmas budget
Saving towards it each week
| Budget ($) | Actual ($) | Difference ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gifts: family | |||
| Gifts: friends | |||
| Gifts: teachers and colleagues | |||
| Christmas Day food and drinks | |||
| Other food and entertaining | |||
| Decorations and tree | |||
| Cards, wrapping and postage | |||
| Travel and accommodation | |||
| Outfits | |||
| Parties and events | |||
| Charity and giving | |||
| Boxing Day sales | |||
| Other | |||
| TOTAL |
Using this page
A one-page Christmas budget with the costs people often forget, such as postage, outfits, travel and the food for the days around Christmas, with budget and actual columns.
Tips
- Start in October or earlier and save a set amount each week.
- Fill in last year's spending first if you can: it is the best guide to this year.
- Use cash or a separate account for Christmas spending so it does not mix with the bills.
How to plan a Christmas budget
Start with the total you can afford without borrowing. If you have last year's bank statements, add up what Christmas really cost: most people are surprised by the food, travel and postage, not just the gifts. Write a budget beside each category, then fill in the Actual column as you spend. The Difference column shows where you are over or under.
Dividing the total by the number of weeks until Christmas gives a weekly amount to save. Starting in October, a $600 Christmas is about $50 a week.
Where Christmas money goes
Gifts are the obvious cost, but food and drinks for Christmas Day and the parties around it often come close. Travel to see family, new outfits, decorations that need replacing and Boxing Day sales add up quickly. Listing them all on one page makes it easier to choose where to cut back, for example a Secret Santa instead of gifts for every adult, or a shared Christmas lunch where each family brings a dish.
Common questions
Is this financial advice?
No. It is a planning sheet. If Christmas spending often leads to debt, free and confidential help is available from the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.