Unwrap a New Approach to Holiday Spending

'Tis that time of year. Holiday spirit is back in season. Americans plan to open their wallets wide and spend an average $1,652 on the holidays this year, according to a 2023 Deloitte survey. Now, I'm no Grinch. But at this point in my life, holiday spending has become a non-event for me. It wasn't always that way, however.

When I was in my early 20s, I was that person going to the big box stores and getting caught up in the sales. One year, I remember thinking, "Oh, this sounds like a great deal," and I bought an expensive video camera on Black Friday. I even opened one of those store credit cards, not realizing back then what opening a new card does to your credit score (typically lowers it). I ended up losing that camera several months later. Imagine how ticked I was to be paying interest on that camera—something I had lost, wasn't using, and the purchase of which dinged my credit—for months afterward.

Today, I'm over the whole drama of chasing Black Friday deals, and that's a good thing. Instead, it's about the experience of seeing my son and fiancée open their gifts and the joy and happiness on their faces. As you prepare for the holidays, consider these nine ideas to help you take control of your spending and help prevent a financial hangover in the New Year.

When you save for a down payment on a house, for retirement, or your kids' college education, you set aside funds in a special account. In that same way, consider creating a separate fund for holiday spending. This is a miss for many folks. We don't treat holiday spending the same way and we should. You have a whole year to plan for this. Get into the mindset of creating a goal and saving in a holiday spending fund. You could set aside $100 a month starting in January in a special account. Whatever you decide, create a systematic plan to get to your number, and then follow it.

Call me boring, but I make a budget and stick to it. Let's say my holiday spending budget is $1,000. My fiancée gets a piece, my five-year old son gets a piece, and extended family gets a piece. I also factor in gift wrap, tape, holiday decorations, and postage—these are all a separate line item. Holiday spending includes all of the above.

It's easy to walk into a store and buy things on impulse. When I go to Costco, my fiancée has to stop me from buying things I don't need. Try to avoid being tempted by deals you see in store or online. Just because something is a good deal, doesn't mean you need it or have the budget for it. To help stay disciplined, make a list for everyone you plan to buy a gift for and follow it. I'm a big fan of online wish lists. It's like a family registry for gifts. It helps you avoid the trap of all the "deals" in the stores, which can lead to impulse buys.

In 2022, 35% of Americans took on holiday debt, with the average amount standing at $1,549, according to LendingTree. Ouch. Have you looked at the interest rate your credit card company charges you lately? Some credit card interest rates top 20% now, which means a holiday debt hangover in January could be rough. Only spend what you've got. If you have been putting a little bit of money away, just spend that. It's a great best practice to avoid borrowing for this time of year, which leads me to the next mistake.

The "Buy Now, Pay Later" industry has exploded in recent years, with a near tenfold increase in loans since 2019, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. These plans let you make a purchase, get it now, and pay for it over time with a series of installment payments.

So, here's the deal: If you are taking advantage of a buy now, pay later offer, it means you probably don't have the money right now. What happens if the car breaks down in three months and you get derailed paying it off? Some of these offers come with interest and late fees, which can add up. Again, only spend what you've got.

Early on as my extended family grew, I tried to buy gifts for everyone, including all my nieces and nephews and in-laws. But the family just kept expanding. Now, everyone puts their name on a list, and we all pick a name and buy one gift. It creates an experience where everyone can get a special gift, we all save money, and it's so meaningful. Now, outside of my immediate family, I buy just one gift for extended family.

Have you ever topped off your online shopping cart with another purchase just to get the free shipping? Stick to your list. Need I say more?

You may have heard of the 'Girl Math' and 'Boy Math' trends popularized on social media lately. It involves clever ways of justifying more purchases including ideas like: a refund is free money, anything under $5 is free, or if you find something on sale for $50 that originally sold for $100—then you just made $50.

Listen, I love that people are doing the math. But consider this: What if you took that $50 and invested it? What is the opportunity cost if you spend the $50? I would love to see people do the same amount of math with a compound savings calculator. I challenge you to do the other side of the equation.

Gifts don't need to be bought. To me, the holiday season is not about the biggest gift, it's about the moment we see someone else excited. Consider gifting your time: do an activity together, make a meal for someone, gift a night of babysitting so a couple can have a date night. Or consider taking your loved ones to fun holiday destinations in your area, like the Trail of Lights in Austin, Rockefeller Center in New York, or the Arboretum here in Dallas. These experiences are often cheaper than gifts, and making holiday memories together could be more meaningful.

Give yourself a gift by not overextending yourself financially this holiday season. These small adjustments can help give you financial peace of mind, and in my book that's something to celebrate.