Christmas budget calculator
Pick one number for the whole of Christmas, then split it: gifts, food, decorations, travel and the rest. You'll see your gift budget per person and how much to put aside each week. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Our Christmas budget
Example split from the Christmas Budget Planner. Type over it with yours.
Gift budget per person
- Gifts divided by people
- -
Save each week
- Until Christmas
- -
Left to split
- Budget not given to a category
- -
| Category | Budget | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Gifts | - | |
| Food & drinks | - | |
| Decorations | - | |
| Travel | - | |
| Cards & wrapping | - | |
| Events & parties | - | |
| Charity | - | |
| Other | - | |
| Total | - | - |
Change the total and the categories keep the same shares. Change a category and the rest stays as it is.
Three habits that keep Christmas on budget
- Write the gift list before you shop. A name and a price for each person turns "a few presents" into a real number.
- Count the small stuff. Wrapping paper, cards, stamps, party food and train tickets add up fast, so give them their own lines.
- Log what you actually pay. Comparing planned with actual is how you notice overspending while there's still time to fix it.
Track it as you shopThe Christmas Budget Planner keeps your gift list, holiday expenses and this budget in one spreadsheet, with spent so far and left to spend. Excel and Google Sheets. $7.
Get the planner for $7See every tab first on the Christmas Budget Planner page.
Questions
How do I choose a Christmas budget?
Start from what you can pay without borrowing: money you already have set aside plus what you can save from now until Christmas. The weekly number above shows whether the total is realistic.
How much should I spend per person?
There is no right number. Decide the gifts total first, then divide it. If the amount per person feels too small, buy for fewer people, agree a limit with family, or try a Secret Santa.
What should the budget include?
More than presents: food and drinks, decorations, travel to see family, cards and wrapping, parties and any giving. Forgetting these is the most common reason Christmas costs more than planned.
Is my information saved or sent anywhere?
No. The math runs in your browser. Nothing you type leaves this page.