Today is October 19, and while we still have Halloween and U.S. Thanksgiving to get through, Christmas is just over two months away — about nine weeks, to be exact. Let’s break it down further: that’s roughly 4–5 more paychecks for most people, assuming a bi-weekly schedule.
Why am I breaking down how many months, weeks, and paychecks are left until Christmas? Well, if it’s not obvious already, here’s a hint: for many families, Christmas isn’t just a date on the calendar — it’s a financial event.
Whether it’s gifts, travel, festive dinners, or last-minute decorations, the holiday season can add up fast. By thinking in terms of weeks and paychecks, not just days, you give yourself the power to plan ahead instead of panicking later.
If you know you have 4 or 5 pay periods before the big day, you can:
- Set a clear budget and avoid maxing out credit cards.
- Spread out your spending instead of cramming it all into December.
- Take advantage of early deals and avoid last-minute markups.
- Enjoy the holidays without the financial hangover in January.
- Save a set amount from every paycheck.
While all of these are important, I want to focus on the last one. I’ve been doing this for the past few years, and as a result, Christmas shopping and financing haven’t been much of a stress.
First, sit down and calculate a budget for Christmas: cash gifts, presents, food, new clothing — write everything down and estimate the costs. Once you have a total, figure out how much to save from each paycheck from now until the last week or so before Christmas. As the holiday approaches, you can use the money you’ve been saving to handle your Christmas shopping.
Now, compare that to the alternative: saving nothing and relying on credit cards, knowing Christmas will inevitably arrive in late December. That scenario guarantees a stressful January with a large credit card bill.
So, this little countdown isn’t just a reminder that Christmas is near — it’s your early warning system to get ahead financially, allowing you to focus on the memories, not the bills. And don’t forget, as a bonus, if you have saved the money, always wise to pay on credit: not only will you get loyalty points, you will enjoy other perks as well.