Most of us overspend during the holidays without having clear budget goals in mind. Whether it’s gifts, celebrations, décor, or else – there’s just something about the holidays that makes it easy to shell out our hard-earned money without a second thought.

Having tangible budget goals is always important if you want to manage money well. But having holiday budget goals is not about just money management, it’s about ensuring you don’t find yourself in financial trouble – as many do – after the holidays are gone.

And if the words “budget goals” fill you up with dread – start small. Curbing overspending isn’t all that complicated. Let us show you how you can do that and how a Delaware installment loan can assist you if you ever find yourself in trouble.

How To Set Up A Holiday Budget 

1. Make An Itemized Budget

Do you have your holiday budget or at least a rough estimate of cash you’re feeling comfortable spending during the time?

Pull up a piece of paper, write down everything you’ll need to spend money on during the holidays, and start dividing the sum between the expenses.

Allocate certain set amounts to gifts, travel, celebration, etc. separately to each expense line. This is your rough guideline. Your budget goal is to NOT spend more than allocated on either.

2. Follow Your Shopping List

The easiest way to overspend without giving it a second thought is to window shop. Or, in the 21st century, to browse online stores.

This is why you need a shopping list before you start shopping. And the earlier you start better. The harder the holiday advertisements double down, the harder it will be to avoid spending extra money – if even small things like holiday-themed (read: overpriced) sweets and decorations.

3. Implement Tactics That Help Decrease Unavoidable Expenses

Here’s the most important goal of all – instead of just trying not to overspend, try to actively decrease your spending.

Use thrift and dollar stores for gifts, utensils, and décor. Rummage around your house to see if you have anything laying around that can be repurposed.

Instead of hosting a holiday dinner, convince a few friends to hold a potluck-style celebration together (it will decrease expenses for all of you). Same if you get roped into hosting an extensive family. Yes, asking for food may be uncomfortable at first. But do you know what will be comfortable? Reconciling your budget and finding you spent less than expected.

And last, but not least, make use of free entertainment. There are plenty of options during holidays. Take a look at what your area has to offer. Maybe you can celebrate without ever having to spend a dime on anything other than a themed drink. That, as we all know, is a must.

4. Have A Plan For Emergencies!

If you’re having trouble reconciling your budget goals due to unaccounted expenses popping up – first of all, don’t panic. It happens. Holidays can be, unfortunately, an emergency-prone period.

Second of all, do a careful review of your finances and get a solid idea of how much it will take to have that emergency fixed quickly.

The ideal way of dealing with emergencies is, of course, having a well-stocked emergency fund you can immediately take the money out of to cover any unexpected expenses that may pose problems for your budget goals.

But if that’s not an option, then it may be worth looking into getting an online installment loan. 

Why An Installment Loan?

Installment loans are accessible, quick, and convenient. All you need is to be of legal age and have some kind of income. Delaware Title Loans, Inc., for example, welcomes clients of all credit types and income situations (including non-salaried ones).

All you need to qualify are a valid state-issued ID (driver’s license works), proof of income (typically your most recent pay stub but alternatives can be used), and a blank check from an active checking account in your name.

The process is short, straightforward, and can easily be started from the comfort of your own home.

How To Get An Installment Loan

Fill out and submit an online form for installment loans in Delaware. The form will send your information to the nearest store, and our loan representative will give you a call not long after.

They’ll provide further instructions, answer your questions, and schedule a meeting with you.

Bring the required items to the meeting at the agreed-upon time. The loan representative will need to examine them to determine if you qualify for the installment loan and the maximum loan amount you qualify for.

If they approve you, you’ll finish the paperwork and receive the loan on the same day or the following business day.

Budgeting For The Holidays Made Simple 

Budgeting doesn’t have to include long spreadsheets and complicated math. You can follow our tips today to prepare a water-tight budget for the holiday season.

But if you have trouble reconciling your budget goals due to an urgent expense, getting an installment loan may be just right for you. The in-person procedure takes on average only around 30-45 minutes, and with our minimal waiting period, you’ll get the cash on the next bank business day at the latest. Submit a filled-out form today to cover any unexpected expenses with ease and enjoy your holidays!

Enjoyed this article? We have plenty more tips on how to handle your money wisely during the holidays!

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.