A calm holiday, with no January hangover
One number, one list, one plan for the sales. Everything you need to enjoy the holidays and still like your bank balance in January.
Six steps to a calmer holiday
Do them in order, or just pick the one you need today.
Pick one holiday number
Gifts, food, travel, decorations: one total that fits this month’s budget, not next month’s card bill.
The 6-step Christmas budget →Write the one-line gift list
Every name gets one amount. When the list adds up to your number, the list is done.
Use the gift list method →Shop the sales with a cap
Decide what you need before the ads arrive. A deal only counts if it was on the list.
Black Friday spending plan →Check the big buys
Thinking about a big gift or a new TV? Run it through a 30-second reality check first.
Can I afford it? →Plug the holiday leaks
Streaming trials, delivery fees, “just this once” coffees. See what they add up to.
Money leak finder →Start January calm
Reset the budget, pay down anything that landed on a card, and start next year’s fund.
New year budget reset →Read before you shop
How to budget for Christmas (without a January hangover)
The holidays don't have to end with a card bill you're still paying in March. Pick one number, split it on paper, and let the list do the deciding.
Read the guide →A Black Friday spending plan that actually saves you money
A sale only saves money if you were going to buy the thing anyway. Here's how to walk into the biggest shopping weekend with a list, a cap and a plan for impulse buys.
Read the guide →How to start a Christmas savings fund (and how much to save each week)
$600 for the holidays feels big in December. Spread from January to mid-November, it's about $13 a week. Here's how to set up a gift fund that makes next December easy.
Read the guide →The new year budget reset: 7 steps for a calmer January
January is the easiest month to change your money habits. Here's a simple reset you can finish in one weekend, with an optional no-spend challenge to kick it off.
Read the guide →How to do a no-spend challenge (and actually save money)
Pause everything except the essentials for a set time. It's a quick reset that shows you exactly where your money usually leaks.
Read the guide →Sinking funds: the easy way to pay for big expenses
Most budget-busting bills aren't emergencies. They're predictable expenses that show up once or twice a year.
Read the guide →Try your numbers
Gifts for the savers on your list
Funny money tees and mugs, and Penny’s Money Kit for kids.
Steady Sums shares general education, not financial advice. For decisions about your situation, talk to a licensed professional.
One calm money move a week.
A 3-minute Tuesday email with one simple step for budgeting, saving and paying off debt. Join free and get a printable $1,000 emergency fund tracker.
Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe any time.