No, it's not too early to start saving for the holidays

September 17, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

No, it's not too early to start saving for the holidays

When accredited financial counselor Bethel Haptie hears people say it's too early to think about holiday budgeting, she pushes back hard. "It's always a good time to think about future spending," she says, "especially because you can do a lot more when you have more time." The goal isn't just to survive December without a credit card hangover. The ideal scenario, Haptie explains, is that "the money that you're spending is just the money that you're spending instead of the money you're spending plus interest to credit card companies in January and February."

Know what you're actually working with

Most people don't know their real numbers. Haptie says many of the people she talks to can't say how much money they actually bring home each month after taxes, health insurance premiums, and retirement contributions. That's the first number to nail down. The second number is the bare minimum you need to run your life: rent, transportation, fixed expenses, and variable expenses that are consistently high and necessary—daycare, groceries, and debt payments. Subtract the second from the first, and you have your discretionary money plus whatever you can save.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:23) **Why It's Not Too Early to Start Planning** - Host Mariel Segarra introduces the episode's premise and interviews accredited financial counselor Bethel Haptie, who argues that planning ahead is crucial to avoid holiday credit card debt that lingers into the next year.
2 (01:25) **Takeaway 1: Get a Baseline** - Bethel explains the first step is knowing your monthly take-home pay after taxes, insurance, and retirement contributions.
3 (02:58) **Do a Retrospective on Last Year's Spending** - Review past credit card and bank statements to see what you actually spent on the holidays last year.
4 (03:31) **Takeaway 2: Spread Out Your Holiday Expenses** - Financial therapist Chidozie Ifebuchi suggests automating small weekly or monthly savings into a dedicated "holiday" account.
5 (05:14) **Buy Gifts Now, Not Later** - Spread out the actual spending by purchasing gifts throughout the year when you find something perfect.
6 (08:19) **Takeaway 3: Choose Your Big Swings** - Bethel says your holiday budget should reflect what you genuinely care about, not social pressure.
7 (09:59) **Name Three Moments to Be Present For** - Niro Feliciano advises picking specific moments (like Christmas morning or a family dinner) where you'll put away your phone and show up fully.

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Show Notes

Holiday spending can sneak up on you. From endless gift shopping to expensive flights home, it's easy to lose track of your long-term goals in this season of financial obligations. This episode, Life Kit experts share tips on making a holiday spending plan so you can enjoy the winter festivities guilt-free.

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