The ideal holiday season is full of celebration, connection and joy. 

Many of us have grand dreams of how the season should look and feel. However, the burdens of creating that holiday space can add layers of stress and anxiety to what ought to be a time of peace and joy. Whether it’s gift giving, hosting a family feast or traveling for the holidays, expenses can add up quickly and leave you feeling overwhelmed.

Here are six practical tips to help you be proactive about your financial health and manage your financial stress during the holidays.

1. Identify your core values and priorities: Responsible budgets start with clear intentions about your values. What about the holidays matter the most to you? Family? Gifts? Food? Travel? Be clear about what matters, so money goes to the right place for you.
2. Set healthy limits: We’re told during the holidays we should give relentlessly. While it’s good to be generous, it can be a hardship without limits. Consider how you might feel about today’s purchases a month or a year from now. It’s okay to set realistic limits and say no.
3. Adjust your expectations or traditions: Stressed about expensive gifts for everyone? Set new expectations with your loved ones about giving and receiving gifts. Many families have a Secret Santa tradition to help control their gift budget and limit clutter.
4. Don’t do it alone: We feel pressure to do everything alone, but a shared expense is less for everyone. Do holiday dinners potluck style. Carpool with family or share travel expenses. Sharing responsibilities can enrich our connection with loved ones.
5. Track your spending: Use digital budgeting tools to help you stay accountable. There are several online tools that are free or that have a free subscription tier. Or, if you’re a more analog person, you could always keep your own ledger or use an envelope system to manage your spending.
6. Choose less expensive activities: Find alternatives that cost less. Make gifts rather than purchase them. Look for deals at local grocery stores. Choose free or low-cost activities like a family trip to a local playground, a Christmas movie marathon or boardgames at home.

If you or someone you work with is experiencing ongoing holiday-related stress, talking about it can help relieve the burden. Often, we minimize our struggles during this time of year, but almost all of us can find the holidays stressful. Take up the space you need.

One final note — you may be reading this and are privileged to find yourself without much financial stress this holiday season. If you have this privilege, consider ways you might offer support for others who are unable to manage that stress in the same way.

We're excited to bring you this series, Navigating the Holidays, from Salem Health's Staff Engagement and Resiliency Advocate team. Our SERAs hum away in the background, helping us through good times and bad times.