TLDR
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The holidays can be pricey, but there are plenty of opportunities to manage your spending without missing out on holiday fun.
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Making — and sticking to — a gift budget can help you manage your spending, and looking for deals can help you save on gifts.
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Investing your holiday savings, and setting up an investment plan for the new year, can help you reach your financial goals.
It’s no secret that the holidays can get pricey, and you might risk debt “hangover if you don’t have a plan in place to guide your spending.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to keep tabs on your spending leading up to the holidays, and the right strategy can free up room in your budget for investing in your future. Consider these seven tips that will allow you to have plenty of festive fun while still setting yourself up for financial success in the new year.
1. Set spending limits for the holiday season
Budgeting is crucial to track and manage your expenses — and that goes for gift-giving expenses too. Before you start holiday shopping, take a look over your finances and set limits on:
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How much you have available to spend overall
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Whom to shop for
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How much to spend per gift (including shipping fees, taxes, duties and customs)
Then, make a plan to stay within those limits leading up to the holidays.
If you use the RBC Mobile App, consider using NOMI Budgets to help you stick to your plan. NOMI allows you to track your spending across multiple categories and sends updates in real time to help you stick to your goals.
As a bonus, NOMI learns from your spending habits to suggest a budget that suits your lifestyle, so you can start the new year on sound financial footing.
Pro tip: Be transparent with your loved ones if you plan to cut back on holiday spending this year. You’re likely not the only one worried about your holiday budget, and your friends and family may wish to join you in celebrating a lower-cost holiday.
2. Avoid impulse purchases
It’s all too easy to pick up an extra stocking stuffer here or there. But those $5 and $10 expenses can add up to a big dent in your holiday budget. Instead, shop from a gift list that allows you to remain in control of your spending, and adopt shopping habits that allow you to shop mindfully.
Consider shopping online or using click-and-collect — where you complete a transaction online but pick up your goods in store — to avoid the temptation to pick up a few extras in the checkout line. Or, if you tend to overspend using credit, make your holiday purchases using your debit card to stick to your goals.
3. Start shopping early to find deals
’Tis the season for sales, and starting your gift search early gives you the best chance to find a great deal.
Of course, Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer plenty of deals, but keep an eye out for smaller promotions too. Many retailers offer hefty discounts in the weeks leading up to Black Friday to entice early shoppers, and they may offer better deals than you’ll find on the big day.
If you’ve got a few retailers in mind, consider signing up for their email newsletter to learn about new deals ASAP — then unsubscribe after your purchase to avoid the temptation to overspend. Or, consider installing an app or plugin that lets you know when your gift items drop in price, so you can secure the best deal.
Pro tip: Keep the holidays affordable with low-cost gift items too. Handmade items add a highly personal touch to each gift, while thrift store items allow you to gift something truly unique.
Look for opportunities to save on the trimmings, like cards and wrapping paper, as well. Forego store-bought wrapping paper in favor of reusable or recyclable materials like fabric, newspaper or brown paper. And create digital or handmade holiday cards instead of buying expensive ones.
4. Give the gift of experiences
If you’re spending the holidays with your loved ones, consider forgoing traditional gifts and focusing on spending time together.
If you’ve got room in your holiday budget, give an experience gift — such as tickets to an event or show that your loved ones are looking forward to. There are plenty of free options too. Spend a day together hiking or ice skating, or attend a free winter festival or event in your area to share in the holiday cheer.
5. Give back with a charitable donation
Of course, the holidays can also be a prime opportunity to give back to the community, so consider giving a donation to a charitable cause in a loved one’s name. A donation helps make the world a better place, of course, but it also makes it easy to stick to your holiday budget, since you can donate a set amount without worrying about gift price fluctuations.
Pro tip: If you donate over the holidays, keep track of receipts for tax season. Registered charities will issue receipts by February 28 of the following year.
There are ways to give back without spending money, too. Consider volunteering at a food bank or other charitable organization over the holiday. And perform random acts of the kindness — like sending a thoughtful note to loved one or shoveling a neighbour’s driveway — to spread holiday cheer.
6. Invest your holiday savings
Sticking to your holiday budget could net you some extra funds in your bank account leading up to the new year. And you can help make each of those dollars work hard for you by investing your savings.
Depositing the funds into a registered investment account — such as a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), Registered Retirement Savings Account (RRSP) or First Home Savings Account (FHSA) — allows them to grow tax-free.
Plus, in the case of a FHSA or RRSP, there are tax advantages to investing — you can deduct your contribution on your income tax and save money in the new year.
Learn more: Compare TFSA vs RRSP vs FHSA
7. Start planning for next year
Financial planning for the holidays doesn’t just help you stick to your gifting budget, it lays the groundwork to set yourself up for financial success in the new year. The habits you’ll form from savvy holiday gift giving — like sticking to a budget and spending mindfully — can positively impact your overall financial planning.
Tracking your spending in a budget, for example, can help you identify opportunities to trim your expenses and free up funds for investing. From there, you can set up automatic transfers into an investment account to build your wealth over time.
Pro Tip: Small savings goals add up to large savings over time. If you set aside $20 to put into a High Rate eSavings account each week, you’ll accumulate $1,082 in savings over the course of a year. This could help you get ahead on your savings goals and reduce your stress.
Start your journey by talking to a financial advisor, who can help you find an investment account that meets your needs and work with you to create a plan to build your wealth.
Learn more about how we can help you reach your goals, and find an advisor in your area, by visiting us online.
Financial planning services and investment advice are provided by Royal Mutual Funds Inc. (RMFI). RMFI, RBC Global Asset Management Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, Royal Trust Corporation of Canada and The Royal Trust Company are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. RMFI is licensed as a financial services firm in the province of Quebec.
This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.
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