Now Is Always the Best Time for a Plan!

October 9, 2026

As we start October thinking about Halloween, it got us thinking about the whole upcoming holiday season. The holidays are a time for celebrating and making memories, but they also bring extra expenses – especially with young children. We’re trying to think ahead so we don’t get bombarded with all those extra costs at once.

This year, we’re setting a limit on what we’ll spend on the kids, and we’re not getting gifts for each other. We probably should have started planning earlier in the year, but we’re reminding ourselves that it’s never too late to start! If we set aside $25 a week now for Christmas, it won’t feel quite as overwhelming when December rolls around.

We’re also making a challenge for ourselves to help offset some of the extra holiday spending. We’re going to try a no-spend November, where we won’t purchase any unnecessary items for the entire month. Of course, we’ll still pay our regular bills and purchase necessities like groceries and gas, but we’ll take a break from the extras and see how much we can save for the holidays!

Our goal isn’t to take the fun out of the holidays or be perfect with our spending. It’s to plan ahead, be intentional about where our money goes and find ways to make the season enjoyable without creating financial stress. After all, the best holiday memories don’t have to come with a big price tag!