Plan for The Holidays Now

+ PLAN FOR THE + HOLIDAYS +NOW+ While it's no secret that year-end spending can ramp up significantly, those December expenses have a way of sneaking up on you. By prepping well ahead of time, you can avoid running into the perils of overspending. To get ahead, here are extra expenses in December you should budget for now: HEATING BILLS Indoor heating needs ramp up from October to March. BILL Expect your gas bill to be about 11% higher on average this winter. ELECTRICITY BILLS Shorter days and holiday lights cause our electricity needs to rise in the winter. 3 SICK TIME 40 Save a cash or sick time cushion in case you or your kids fall ill during the flu season. 4 DONATING TO CHARITY Winter is the season to give. Budget for your favorite charities now. Keep receipts for your taxes. HOLIDAY GATHERINGS $ Plan your holiday party now and save a little toward it each month. 2$ 6 HOLIDAY TRAVEL Visit family this holiday season for free with a travel credit card. Sign up now so that you can meet the spending requirement and earn the bonus in time to plan your holiday trip. 7 GIFTS Americans spend an average of $785-$950 on holiday gifts. Avoid debt by socking money away each month. BROUGHT TO YOU BY: credit sesame