Make a Plan For Your Holiday Spending.
Holiday Planning Tips
Posted November, 2025
For many of us, November and December kick off a season of celebrating and yes…spending. Don’t wait! Make a plan for your holiday spending.
Here are a few savings strategies to help you save this season.
Travel
- Comparison Shop: Compare discount sites (like Hopper and Kayak) with airline and hotel sites which may offer promotional discounts if you book direct. You can also compare the cost of one-way tickets, which can be cheaper than round-trip fare.
- Flexible Dates & Times: Flying a day earlier or later can significantly reduce the cost of your tickets. Likewise, pay attention to departure times. Early morning or red-eye takeoffs (versus afternoon flights) can trim as much as $100-$200 per ticket.
- Alternate Airports: When searching for holiday flights, be sure to include other airports within your filter parameters. Sometimes flying into or out of a smaller airport (even on one leg of the trip) can reduce your total checkout cost.
- Bundle Deals: Do you need a rental car or hotel in addition to your flight? Many travel sites offer discounted rates if you book everything together—this one-stop-shop approach also saves you planning time.
- Reward Points: If you have accumulated frequent flyer miles or credit card reward points, now is the time to cash in on them. They can trim your travel expenses or even cover the cost of a flight.
Gifting
- DIY Gifts: Thoughtful gifts don’t require a big budget or expert crafting – a video tribute, photo book, or curated snack basket for the sweet tooth, coffee lover, or home baker in your life are just a few ideas.
- Abundance Swap: Many of us have something in our home that we don’t use – an appliance collecting dust or something you were gifted twice. Host a party where your friends or family bring a quality item to swap.
- The Gift of Time: The holidays are an especially busy time, and caregiving is often a steep hourly expense. Instead of buying gifts, offer cost-free babysitting or pet sitting to someone who could benefit from a date night or weekend away from home.
- Opt for an Outing: Gifts aren’t the only way to connect during the holidays. Suggest a group experience you can enjoy together. Whether it’s a holiday performance, snow tubing, or a festive exhibit, experiences are so often what make a season memorable.
Feasting
- Keep it Simple: While it may be tempting to recreate a lavish meal from your childhood or gourmet cookbook, there’s nothing wrong with keeping ingredients simple. Prioritize what matters to you. If you want to go big on one entree, complete the meal with less costly side dishes like roasted vegetables or rolls.
- Potluck Dinners: Host a potluck dinner where each guest brings a dish to share. This not only reduces the cost and pressure of cooking for a large group but also makes the meal more diverse. You might even walk away with a favorite new recipe!
- Dessert or Appetizers Only: If you’re tight on funds this season – and still want to enjoy coming together for a meal – host a dessert or appetizer-only gathering where everyone brings something on the smaller side.
- Skip the Smorgasbord: The holidays are a hard time for so many households living paycheck-to-paycheck or living without a paycheck at all. You don’t need a big budget to make a meaningful impact. In lieu of a lavish meal, donate to your local food bank in your area and encourage others to join you.
Holiday Savings Account
Prepare for future holiday spending by setting up a sperate account for your holiday expenses. UECU members can start a Special Savings Account to put aside money for holiday expenses. Set up automated deposits and withdraw funds any time.
Holiday Helpers
If holiday spending has you feeling stressed, reach out! GreenPath Financial Wellness can help you pay down debt, create a sustainable budget, and connect to free financial courses designed to build a healthy financial foundation year-round. Give them a call at 877-337-3399 or visit GreenPath.com/UECU.
Financial education provided by our partner GreenPath Financial Wellness.