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I had a baby in April, and since that time, 2025 has gone by so fast my head is spinning. It feels like I was frantically chasing my toddler at the beach two days ago, and yesterday was Labor Day weekend. How can it possibly be November? Time has no meaning to parents of young children.

Then throw in the horrors of daylight saving time this past week. Didn’t we all agree to get rid of this horrendous tradition?? Why are we torturing ourselves? Whenever my baby looked at me at 5AM with the energy of a thousand Red Bulls, I knew we were in trouble.

So, of course, now I’m thinking about the holiday season and how I haven’t prepared at all. Christmas is seven weeks away, and Hanukkah is six, and I have about five hours available to shop. While I do have an ongoing list of gifts I’m planning to buy for my kids, I’ve yet to purchase any of them.

Every year, I tell my financial coaching clients to plan ahead! Start saving and buying in July! The holidays come at the same time each year; there’s no excuse not to have a game plan!

Well, folks, I’m here to admit I was a naive and well-rested person spouting that nonsense. I am failing to follow my own advice. The truth is, the holidays really snuck up on me this year. Between having a baby, starting new jobs, and producing an off-Broadway show, my brain has officially reached capacity.

This realization led me to have a small panic attack, followed by an urgent need to create a strategy to financially manage the holidays. Here’s what I’ve come up with:

Write down only:

This is your baseline. Everything else (neighbors, coworkers, extended family who you love but never actually see, Secret Santas you did not ask to be in) gets added only if your budget allows.

We prioritize needs and expectations first, then we get creative.

Here is the holiday hack of adulthood:
Just tell people what you want and ask them what they want.

Surprises are fun, but also expensive and risky. Stick with much-loved classics.

Clarity = fewer impulse purchases = everyone’s happier.

Before you add anything to a cart, go on a small archaeological dig in your own home:

These are the gifts we’re sending to coworkers, teachers, neighbors, Yankee swaps. Sorry folks, no Michael Scott iPods in the mix.

I truly love the method of buying kids one thing they want, one thing they need, one thing to read, one thing to wear. Easy peasy!

Remember, kids do not need an overflowing Christmas morning to feel magic.
They need:

The holidays come with sneaky financial traps. Don’t forget you’ll need to budget for:

Make a list and assign rough numbers. Even if you guess badly, planning 50% is better than planning 0%.

Your kids won’t remember:

They will remember:

Tradition is about repetition, not expense.

Before you check out with anything this holiday season, ask yourself if what you’re buying is truly adding value.

In January, you deserve to start the year with hope, not financial regret and a dried out tree.

Best of luck in your gift-buying season. May the budget Gods be in your favor! I’m still mentally recovering from an incredible opening of Vape! The Grease Parody. One of the best nights of my life. I’m so grateful to you all who bought tickets to see the show over the next 10 weeks! If you get the chance to attend, post your pics on Instagram and tag me so I can see! 😄

Until next time, Villagers,

-Catie