Write down the amount of money you can afford to spend. As you make purchases, subtract from the budgeted amount for that category. If you can keep expenditures with your budget, your reward will be a sense of control over your holiday decisions. Take an objective view of the holiday responsibilities that you may be adding to an already crowded schedule. Only then can you can make good decisions about how to spend your resources.
Accusations are all too common when post-holiday bills start rolling in.
A lot of research points to the fact that money is the number one issue American couples fight about. One reason money becomes a frequent source of disagreement is because we make financial decisions almost daily. Sometimes it's a matter of power and control. Sometimes clashes result from a couple's different family backgrounds. Feelings about money run deep.