What are your budget categories for making your Holiday Budget?

[zchristy]

Have been working on my budget and trying to make sure I can avoid as many unexpected expenses as possible.

I'd love to hear what some of yours are!

Some of Mine:

Gifts/Wrap
Tree/Decor
Clothes
CHristmas Eve PJs for kids
Christmas Eve food/drink
Haircuts in Nov
Christmas Tree festival
Travel
Postage for long distance gifts

 

[Kim Loves Snow]

Christy - Great list!

In addition to yours I have a category for "Holiday Tips" and "Charitable Giving".

 

[luludou]

I just do the gift budget. The rest I don't count.

 

[Snowey]

I try to budget,, and then I say what the heck

 

[snickerdoodle]

I have a line for Christmas Baking Supplies, a line for Christmas meals (we usually splurge on a Honey Baked Ham) and a Misc. line because it seems we always have unexpected expenses.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

We don't have a budget. We just get what we need, when we can. Usually i get things well ahead of time, and when they are on sale.

 

[SparkleNana]

I need to do a budget for everything EXCEPT the gifts. We are cutting back.... AND I have already done the gift shopping. (No... I'm not organized..... just Christmas obsessed!)

FIRST..... I need to look at last year's utility bills and figure out how hard we are going to be hit this time.

Then: special foods. My family HATES to plan in advance. However... we usually end up having Christmas Day here. And... I need to think about entertaining.

And... hostess gifts for holiday parties.

Tips: cash for trash collectors, recycling people, mailperson, newspaper delivery people, and any others I forget.

Mailing costs for gifts to relatives far away.

Money for the week BETWEEN Christmas and New Year's.... when impromptu amusements pop up.... such as.... do you want to go to the movies? Out to brunch? Whatever.

PLUS.... money for the after-Christmas sale at Pier 1.... in late January.

 

[aggy]

My budget is broken into these categories:

Greeting cards/postage
gifts
decorations
food
wine & alcohol beverages
donations
music & movies
miscellaneous

 

[jackfrosty]

I am hopelessly terrible with numbers. I have never budgeted before-just tried to be cheap-I mean frugal. I really am grateful for this thread as I would have no clue where to start! Okay now that I have my categories, what's the next step?

 

[Nutcracker]

Loved these lists. It made me think of some things I haven't thought about in a budget