What this planner does
The holiday season is easy to overspend in, because many small costs arrive at once: gifts, food for guests, travel, decorations and donations. This planner helps you set a total before you shop and keep track of it. Type a total you already have in mind, or choose "Show me what I can afford". That mode takes your monthly take-home pay, subtracts your bills and essentials, multiplies what is left by two for November and December, and adds anything you have already set aside. If your bills are higher than your pay, it tells you nothing is left over.
Plan by category and by person
Split the total into gifts, food and hosting, travel, decorations and giving. For gifts, add each person to the gift list with the amount you plan to spend, then enter what you actually spend as you buy. The result box shows how much budget is left, one bar for what you planned and one for what you spent, and a warning if your plans add up to more than the budget. Your plan and gift list are saved only in your own browser. They are not sent to us, and the "Clear my saved plan" button erases them.
Tick off gifts and share your plan
Tick "Bought" next to each gift once it is bought, and the planner counts how many are done. "Make my plan card" draws a picture of your plan that shows only the share of each category in percent: no dollar amounts and no names. It is made in your browser; you choose whether to download it or share it.
How much time is left
The result box counts the weeks and days from today to Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Christmas Day, using the date on your device. Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, which is November 26 in 2026, so Black Friday is November 27. Christmas is December 25. Knowing how many weeks are left helps you spread spending over several paychecks.
What a credit card would cost
If you might put part of the spending on a credit card, enter the amount, the card's APR and a fixed monthly payment. The planner works out how many months it would take to pay off and how much interest you would pay. It assumes no new purchases, no fees and no promotional rate, so it is an estimate. The starting rate is an example close to the average the Federal Reserve reports in its G.19 release for card accounts that are charged interest, about 22% for August 2026 (preliminary). Use the APR on your own statement. If your payment is smaller than the monthly interest, the balance would never go down, and the planner says so.
Buy now, pay later
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) splits a purchase into smaller payments. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) describes the common version as a zero-interest loan repaid in four or fewer installments. Terms differ, so read the payment dates, fees and what happens if you return an item or miss a payment, and add the installments to your monthly plan. In May 2025 the CFPB withdrew its 2024 interpretive rule on BNPL, so do not assume credit card rules on disputes and refunds apply. Check the provider's written terms.
Scams to watch for
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that scammers often ask for payment by gift card. They may pretend to be a government agency, a utility company, tech support, a prize organizer, or a friend or relative in an emergency, and they push you to hurry or keep it secret. Never share a gift card number or PIN with someone who contacts you. If you already did, report it to the card company right away, keep the card and receipt, and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For the rest of your year, see the budget tracker and the credit card payoff calculator.
General information and a planning tool only, not financial, tax or legal advice. The amounts are yours and the results are estimates. This site is not affiliated with the FTC, the CFPB or the Federal Reserve.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I spend on the holidays?
There is no right number, because it depends on your income, bills, debts and savings. A good starting point is the "what I can afford" mode, which counts only money left after your bills and essentials. Then divide that amount among the people and categories on your list.
Does this site keep my gift list?
No. The list is saved only in your browser's local storage on your device and is never sent to our servers. Erase it with the "Clear my saved plan" button, or by clearing this site's data in your browser. The credit card amounts are not saved at all.
Is it better to use a credit card or save ahead?
Saving ahead avoids interest completely. If you use a card, the planner shows how much interest a fixed monthly payment would cost at your APR, so you can compare. Paying the full statement balance by the due date generally avoids interest on new purchases, but check your own card's terms.