Yes, we know it’s only September, but we’re talking about getting financially ready for the holidays. The months leading up to the holiday season are crucial when planning for expenses and making sure you have enough cash on hand for purchasing gifts, hosting holiday parties or having those delicious once-a-year meals. 

It's never too early to start saving for the holidays, they'll be
here before you know it!

While many people save throughout the year, it’s easy to forget about the financial burden of the holidays in April or May. You can start that now if you haven’t been saving over the course of the year since every little bit helps. Here are some other ways you can be sure you’re ready for madness of the holiday season.

Do a little research- depending the age of your family members and their interests, gift prices can range widely. Toys will be less than the more techy gifts, so while it is hard to predict what will be on everyone’s wish list, having a basic idea of costs will help you…

Develop a budget- you definitely don’t want to go into debt from the holidays, so find out how much you can save and adopt a budget for the next couple of months to help you reach your goals. Of course this may mean you’ll need to…

Make cuts- how crucial is everything you spend money on? Re-evaluate your spending so that you can shop smarter at the grocery store and quit wasting money on things like going out to eat, HBO or other items you don’t really need.

Shop early- yes, savings abound on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but there are also a ton of great deals before holiday season even approaches. If you see something you think may be perfect for a loved one, don’t hesitate to make the purchase. You can return it if you need to, and you’re far enough away from the holidays to not feel like you’re up against a deadline.

Don’t forget you earn CA$H BACK on your qualifying debit card purchases with LSB.  Make sure you select the “CREDIT” option when you swipe your LSB DEBIT card while you’re shopping so you maximize your CA$H BACK earnings!  Learn more about CA$H BACK from LSB at www.mylsb.com/cashback.

If you would like additional assistance in planning for the holidays, Lincoln Savings Bank would be glad to help in any way we can! Stay safe, and happy saving!