Financial Friday: How to keep your holiday budget on track – WTAP
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – The holiday season is here, and so is the pressure to spend on costumes, candy, family meals and gifts. Local financial counselors say a little planning now can help families avoid a debt hangover in January.
Rachel Elliott and Shelene Shrewsbury with West Virginia Consumer Credit Counseling Service recommend starting with a basic household budget before any holiday shopping begins. They say people should first figure out how much money is coming in, list all regular monthly expenses and then decide how much is truly available for holiday spending.
From there, they suggest breaking holiday costs into categories such as food, decorations and gifts, then setting a specific dollar amount for each. Pricing items early and reviewing children’s wish lists can help families estimate total costs and decide what fits within their limits.
Elliott and Shrewsbury also encourage parents to involve kids in the process. They say letting children see how a budget works teaches long-term money skills and helps set realistic expectations about how many items on a wish list are possible.
For those who are unsure where to start, the counselors recommend using simple tools like pen and paper or a spreadsheet to map out income and expenses. They say beginning the planning process as early as possible is key to reducing last-minute stress and avoiding overspending.
They also note that this year’s experience can be useful when planning ahead for next year’s holidays, even if the current budget is tighter than hoped.
West Virginia Consumer Credit Counseling Service offers budgeting help and holiday planning worksheets online. More information and printed materials are available at wvcccs.org or by contacting their office.
Copyright 2026 WTAP. All rights reserved.
source
This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
Rachel Elliott and Shelene Shrewsbury with West Virginia Consumer Credit Counseling Service recommend starting with a basic household budget before any holiday shopping begins. They say people should first figure out how much money is coming in, list all regular monthly expenses and then decide how much is truly available for holiday spending.
From there, they suggest breaking holiday costs into categories such as food, decorations and gifts, then setting a specific dollar amount for each. Pricing items early and reviewing children’s wish lists can help families estimate total costs and decide what fits within their limits.
Elliott and Shrewsbury also encourage parents to involve kids in the process. They say letting children see how a budget works teaches long-term money skills and helps set realistic expectations about how many items on a wish list are possible.
For those who are unsure where to start, the counselors recommend using simple tools like pen and paper or a spreadsheet to map out income and expenses. They say beginning the planning process as early as possible is key to reducing last-minute stress and avoiding overspending.
They also note that this year’s experience can be useful when planning ahead for next year’s holidays, even if the current budget is tighter than hoped.
West Virginia Consumer Credit Counseling Service offers budgeting help and holiday planning worksheets online. More information and printed materials are available at wvcccs.org or by contacting their office.
Copyright 2026 WTAP. All rights reserved.
source
This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
