[Download] Christmas Budget Planner: A Special Gift from Us

As Christmas 2024 approaches, you might feel the squeeze of a tight budget, work deadlines, and little time to plan holiday shopping. Managing daily expenses while keeping track of where your money goes can be a huge task, especially when each transaction seems to disappear without a trace. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our downloadable Christmas Budget Planner, a practical gift to help you take control of every penny spent this holiday season.

Now, we get it, banking apps like Revolut and AIB also help track spending. But here’s where our downloadable Christmas Budget Planner stands apart: it’s tailor-made for Christmas expenses. Unlike bank apps, which lump all spending together, our planner lets you categorise each expense and even track cash purchases. Plus, for Dubliners juggling multiple bank accounts, it helps centralise your Christmas finances in one place.

So, while Revolut and AIB can show your total spending, our Christmas Budget Planner is designed to give you a clear picture of only your holiday budget. As part of our larger effort to support your Christmas planning, we’re regularly updating our MFCU Christmas Loan page with new resources. Our planner helps you visualise your income, expenses, and savings with three easy-to-read charts so that you’re not just tracking money, you’re making the most of it.

Why Use the Christmas Budget Planner?

The MFCU Christmas Budget Planner is designed to help you visualise your income, manage savings, track expenses, and carefully outline Christmas-specific spending. It’s not just a budget tool but a roadmap to smarter spending during the holidays. 

Here’s a breakdown of how each section helps:

1. Monthly Income

The planner’s income section lets you organise all income sources, including salary, freelance work, bonuses, and rental income. By having a clear view of your incoming funds, you can better allocate money towards gifts, festive gatherings, and travel.

2. Savings and Investments:

Beyond income, there’s a section to prioritise savings. By default, this portion helps you earmark 10% of your income, though it’s adjustable to fit your personal goals. It also reminds you to factor in important financial protections like insurance. While we’re on insurance, having good insurance is extremely important. Therefore, we have partnered with Peopl Insurance, to secure peace of mind, from home to life insurance.

3. Monthly Expenses:

This area captures all regular costs, from rent and groceries to subscriptions and travel. The goal here is to identify what you spend monthly, so you can see what’s necessary and spot any areas where you might want to cut back. Having a handle on these costs allows you to make room for any extras like Christmas outings and gift exchanges.

4. Overall Budget:

This offers a clear view of what’s left for Christmas 2024 after accounting for savings and investments. It includes two fields to help you budget effectively. In the “How much will you spend this Christmas?”field, you can set your intended holiday spending, and the planner will calculate how much budget remains. If you need additional funds, the “You will need additional” field shows the gap, helping you decide if extra support is needed for a comfortable season.

Many people rely on credit cards to cover this gap, only to face debt after the holidays. Choosing a Christmas loan over credit cards, however, could be a smarter option for a stress-free Christmas.

5. Christmas Expenses

This is the heart of our planner, dedicated solely to feeding your festive spending. Organise all your gift purchases, travel, food, decorations, and entertainment in one place. This is fairly easy to understand but here’s how the columns work:

• Date: When you spent the money
• Expense Details: What you purchased
• Category: Choose from six categories: Gifts, Food, Decorations, Travel, Entertainment, and Miscellaneous.
• Amount: Enter the amount and it will convert into euro automatically

This Christmas Budget Planner could be extremely helpful for anyone who wants to manage their money better. It doesn’t just set a budget; it gives you the insight to make smarter spending decisions. If you’re considering financing your festive season, explore the benefits of a MFCU Christmas Loan and why it could be a better choice than traditional loans or credit options.

Ready to Plan Your Christmas with Confidence?

Make this Christmas one to remember for all the right reasons. Get started with the MFCU Christmas Budget Planner today and keep track of every holiday expense. Download the planner now, and let the magic of a worry-free Christmas begin.

Continue reading: [What is a Christmas Loan and why is it a better choice?]