Your Christmas budget

Set a total and give every part of Christmas a share.

Set your budget

$1,200

This is the same budget shown in My Plan. Changes here carry across automatically.

Total Christmas budget

Gifts%Food & hosting%Travel%Decorating%Buffer%

How the starting amounts work

At home, the starting split is 40% gifts, 30% food, 10% decorating, and 20% buffer. Travel starts at zero. Suggested percentages adapt to hosting, travel, and whether you give gifts; your saved choices always take precedence.

Existing edits from the previous budget tool are carried over. Percentages that previously did not total 100% are converted to their equivalent shares. All amounts are planning estimates.

Gifts$48040% of your budget

Food & hosting$36030% of your budget

Travel$00% of your budget

Decorating$12010% of your budget

Buffer$24020% of your budget

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Three painted planning scenes showing a calendar, organized supplies, and a simple evergreen progress marker. This crop accompanies “Begin with one comfortable number.” — Visual field note 01 Begin with one comfortable number

Begin with one comfortable number

The right budget is not the most you can spend. It is the amount you can spend without carrying stress into January.

Gifts

Include wrapping and shipping, not only the items inside the boxes.

Gathering

Count groceries, drinks, flowers, takeout, and guest supplies.

Season

Include travel, events, clothing, cards, postage, and charitable giving.

Three painted planning scenes showing a calendar, organized supplies, and a simple evergreen progress marker. This crop accompanies “Keep a cushion for surprises.” — Visual field note 02 Keep a cushion for surprises

Keep a cushion for surprises

Price changes and forgotten recipients happen.
A cushion prevents small surprises from becoming card balances.
If unused, move it to savings on December 26.