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Hello Reader,

How’s your holiday shopping going?

This time of year, many people end up overspending while buying gifts and trying to keep up with holiday obligations.

If you’ve noticed your budget has gone off track, we’re here to help you turn things around before the new year.

Whether you’ve been relying on your credit card or "buy now, pay later" loans, it’s never too late to take control of your finances.

Let’s get started.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This workbook has helped me lay out my plans, and I've gained so much clarity as a result" - Mia

1. Take a look at where you are right now

We know the holiday season can make it feel like you’re being pulled in 20 different directions: holiday parties, end-of-year reports, Christmas recitals, gift buying, holiday dinners—you have a lot on your plate. Checking in with yourself and your finances can help ease the holiday stress.

First, ask yourself how you’re feeling. Emotions influence how you spend, and if you’re feeling anxious, you might be unconsciously spending more than you realize.

Consider slowing down. Try sitting in your car and listening to a short meditation before going into the store, or set alarms on your phone to remind you to pause and take a few deep breaths. Small changes can make a big difference.

Once you feel calm, you can review your finances. Here’s what to look over:

• Review your recent bank statements and transactions to see how much you’ve been spending.
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• Ask yourself what the most important purchases are that you need to make right now.
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• Consider your plans for the rest of December to see whether they align with your true wants and needs.
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Putting the brakes on your spending can help you realign and make sure your money is going where it’s meant to be.

2. Re-evaluate your expenses for the month

Take a close look at your planned spending for the rest of December and identify which non-essential items or events you can trim. Consider skipping an event you don’t truly want to attend or creating a homemade gift rather than purchasing one.

Focusing on meaningful gifts and prioritizing what truly matters can help cut costs and bring more personal satisfaction to your holiday season.​

3. Create a holiday cash cap

We’ve all felt the mad holiday rush. You’re racing from store to store trying to get the best deals, and you tap your card so frequently, it’s hard to remember what you spent.

If you feel like you've been relying on your credit card a little too much, now is a good moment to pull on the brakes. Start using cash for your holiday purchases.

Figure out how much you want to spend on certain items, take out that amount of cash, and once that cash is spent, you’re done, no more buying and no more overspending.

4. Implement the 24-hour rule

Another simple way to curb impulse spending is to use the 24-hour rule. Imagine you’re shopping and a shiny bottle of perfume catches your eye. Before tossing it into your basket, tell yourself to wait. Give yourself 24 hours and see if you still want that fragrance.

If, after 24 hours, you still want it, you can use that time to adjust your budget and put aside money for that purchase.

Waiting a day also takes the pressure off buying in the moment and often reveals whether it’s something you truly need right now or just an impulse.

5. Delay big purchases until post-holiday sales

Who doesn't love getting a good deal on a purchase? We get a little hit of dopamine when we hear “20% off.” Yet as good as these sales sound now, the bigger sales often come after the holidays.

You’ve seen this year after year. Before Christmas, everything is 15% off; after Christmas, the same store has signs saying 40%.

So, if possible, try to hold off on big purchases until after the holiday sales start popping up. That new television or coffee machine...you can probably get a better deal on those items after the holiday rush.

6. Shop gift alternatives

Within your holiday budget, gift buying is probably one of the most expensive areas. There’s often so much pressure to buy the “perfect” gift. Yet the ideal gift doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Take a minute to block out all the commercials and ads saying, “This really expensive item would make the perfect gift for your sister,” and consider who you’re giving gifts to.

Would your sibling be happy if you took them out to eat at their favorite restaurant? Would your mother appreciate a simple closet organizer?

We often get in the habit of buying gifts without considering alternatives. Here are some ideas that might be a better match:

• Offering someone help, such as cleaning their car or babysitting
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• Sending handwritten letters
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• Baking holiday sweets
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• Purchasing tickets to the movies or the theater

Alternatively, you can do group gifts with your siblings or friends or create a “no gift” agreement within your family or social circle.

How to recover if you’ve already overspent

So maybe you realized two Amazon orders ago that you’ve gone significantly over budget. Don’t panic. Instead, make a plan to pay yourself back.

First, write out every place you’ve overspent. Take note of credit card purchases and buy now, pay later loans.

Next, with this list, make a plan to pay back what you’ve spent once the holidays are over. This could mean cutting certain expenses from your January budget so you can pay yourself back.

Consider putting in some extra hours at work or selling unused items to put that money toward your repayment plan.

It can help to make a visual of your repayment plan with charts or apps so you can see the progress you’re making. Likewise, you can turn the repayment area into a mini goal. Once you’ve achieved a goal, celebrate with a day off, a walk in the park, or a sweet treat.

Focus on doing better in 2026

No matter how you started the holiday season, you can finish on top.

​By focusing on your 2026 goals, you can start shifting your behaviors in the present and create better spending habits now.

Having a goal to be debt free in 2026 can make you think twice before swiping your credit card. A goal of starting a sinking fund in the new year can encourage you to start saving money now.

Sometimes all we need is a clear vision to help move us forward!

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Despite the 15 perfume commercials you’ve seen in the last hour, the holidays aren’t all about spending. Remember what this time of year means to you.

Taking time to focus on why you love the holidays is more important than figuring out what else you need to buy.

Don’t forget that financial peace is a gift you can give yourself.

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If you need a little help navigating your holiday spending, book a call with one of our coaches! Together, you can create a plan to manage your money and achieve your goals.

📺 On YouTube

Tune in to this YouTube video on tips to avoid overspending this holiday season!​

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Be sure to Clever Girl Finance YouTube channel for more great videos!

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📖 On the blog

• ​Keeping a spending journal to improve your finances​​
• ​25 Self-improvement ideas for your life and finances​​
• ​Living a minimalist lifestyle to improve your finances​​

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🎧 On the podcast

• Financial Clarity in Divorce & Why Forensic Accounting Could Be Your Secret Weapon with Tracy Coenen

🔊 New Mindset, Let's Go 2026! Book A One-on-One Coaching Session!

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Let’s create a plan that works for your life. Book your coaching session today and start moving forward with confidence!

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Talk soon ❤️
Team CGF
(Kiersten & Bola)

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