List all of the expenses you expect to incur this holiday season – not just buying gifts, but travel, food, decorations, and entertainment. Make your list as detailed as possible, and assign a specific dollar amount for each category based on what you can realistically afford.

Using a budgeting tool like in Kirtland CU Digital Banking can help define your regular income and expenses, so you can more easily create a holiday-specific budget that fits in your normal life.

Creating a budget is important, but keeping to that budget is equally important. Track your expenses and check them against your budget so you know when you are approaching your spending limits and can react accordingly.