Holiday spending doesn't have to derail your budget or financial goals.

Every year, Americans overspend by thousands during the holiday season, but with proper holiday budget planning and money management strategies, you can enjoy the festivities while staying financially on track.

One thing about the holidays is that they come around the same time every year.

In spite of that fact, is it just me or does the time in between holiday seasons seem to go faster as we get older?

I understand Christmas comes around every 365 days, but every year I almost feel caught off guard.

If you're in that hole with me, I'm happy to share that there are things we can do to make finances as smooth as possible during the holiday season.

In this episode, I'm sharing a few ways you can set your finances up for success when we're in the thick of the holiday season.

You don't need a full year to plan, stick to these tips and you'll feel financially peaceful getting through another holiday season!

🎄 Holiday financial strategies you'll learn from this episode:

• Emergency holiday budget planning (even last-minute!)
• Creative gift-giving ideas that save money without sacrificing thoughtfulness
• How to navigate Black Friday and holiday sales without overspending
• The 24-hour rule for avoiding impulse purchases
• Setting spending limits that protect your financial goals

Whether you're reading this in October or December, it's never too late to take control of your holiday spending. These proven strategies will help you enjoy the season without the January financial hangover that affects millions of families each year.

Don't let another holiday season leave you stressed about money - implement these tips starting today!

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [01:35] Holiday Overspending Story: Pre-City Girl Savings, Raya would constantly overspend on holiday gifts for herself and others. A savings challenge changed everything.
• [04:24] Last-Minute Holiday Budget: It's never too late to create your holiday budget. If the timeline is tight, you can still be intentional with holiday budget planning.
• [09:36] Budget-Friendly Gift Ideas: Get creative with gift-giving! It's not always about spending money. Thoughtful doesn't always mean expensive, as Raya has learned.
• [13:37] Holiday Sales Strategy: If you're not planning on spending any money during sales, then when you do participate in sales, you're spending 100% more than you should.
• [17:02] Impulse Purchase Prevention: No one is saying you can't purchase the things you want or need. However, give yourself 24 hours to confirm you actually want the item you're impulsively buying.

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Listen to Episode #45 – How to Prep Your Budget for the Holidays

Learn about Raya's Financial Focus Coaching Program

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