--- title: 6 Bad Habits That Can Ruin Your Holiday Budget description: Here are some bad habits to avoid to keep your holiday budget shiny and bright. image: https://rmcu.net/hubfs/RMCU_Habits-1_c.jpg --- [![RMCULogoColor.jpg](https://rmcu.net/hubfs/RMCU-logo.svg "RMCULogoColor.jpg")](https://rmcu.net) [Online Banking Login](https://banking.rmcu.net/auth/signin) [Online Banking Login](https://banking.rmcu.net/auth/signin) [![RMCULogoColor.jpg](https://rmcu.net/hubfs/RMCU-logo.svg "RMCULogoColor.jpg")](https://rmcu.net) - - [Home Loans](https://rmcu.net/home-loans) - [Personal](https://rmcu.net/personal) - [Business](https://rmcu.net/business) - [Membership](https://rmcu.net/membership) - [Careers](https://rmcu.net/membership/about-rmcu/careers) - [Contact Us](https://rmcu.net/contact-us) - Search - [Financial Education ▾](https://rmcu.net/blog/6-bad-habits-ruin-holiday-budget#financial-education-nav) - [About RMCU ▾](https://rmcu.net/blog/6-bad-habits-ruin-holiday-budget#about-rmcu-nav) - [Security](https://rmcu.net/membership/security) - [TruStage: Security Alert](https://rmcu.net/trustage-security-alert) - [Money Mastermind](https://rmcu.net/money-mastermind-lessons) - [Financial Counseling](https://rmcu.net/financial-counseling) - [Savvy Money](https://rmcu.net/membership/financial-education/savvy-money) - [Blog](https://rmcu.net/blog) - [Resources](https://rmcu.net/resources) - [RMCU Team](https://rmcu.net/membership/about-rmcu/rmcu-team) - [Member Information](https://rmcu.net/membership/about-rmcu/member-information) - [Annual Meeting](https://rmcu.net/membership/about-rmcu/annual-meeting) - [Community](https://rmcu.net/membership/about-rmcu/community) - [Our History](https://rmcu.net/membership/about-rmcu/history) [back to blog](https://rmcu.net/blog) [Financial Literacy](https://rmcu.net/blog/topic/financial-literacy) # 6 Bad Habits That Can Ruin Your Holiday Budget Read Time **2 mins** | Written by: Rocky Mountain Credit Union [mailto:?subject=6%20Bad%20Habits%20That%20Can%20Ruin%20Your%20Holiday%20Budget&body=https%3A%2F%2Frmcu.net%2Fblog%2F6-bad-habits-ruin-holiday-budget](mailto:?subject=6%20Bad%20Habits%20That%20Can%20Ruin%20Your%20Holiday%20Budget&body=https%3A%2F%2Frmcu.net%2Fblog%2F6-bad-habits-ruin-holiday-budget) ## Not Setting a Budget in the First Place If you’re not setting a holiday spending budget, you’re putting your money on the line. It’s important to know how much you have to allocate to gifts, parties, new outfits and travel, and it’s best if you have it all laid out in advance. How much are you planning to spend, and do you truly have the funds to do so? By thinking about money early, you’re in a better place to save enough to do everything you want over the holiday season.     ![RMCU\_Habits-2\_c](https://rmcu.net/hs-fs/hubfs/RMCU_Habits-2_c.jpg?width=5787&name=RMCU_Habits-2_c.jpg)   ## Leaving Shopping to the Last Minute If you’re a last-minute shopper, you could be losing a lot of money. It’s okay to run to the store a day before a gift exchange to pick up something small for your office white elephant exchange, but if you’re shopping for all your gifts this way, you’re probably not taking advantage of holiday deals. And if you’re ordering online, leaving purchases to the last minute can mean that you’re paying a bundle in shipping to make sure the gifts arrive in time. Build in a little time cushion to your purchases, and get an early start to save money.    ## Ignoring Your Finances Until January It’s easy to get into a head-in-the-sand mentality during the holidays, thinking about how busy you are, or not wanting to ruin the festivities with a financial reality check. But checking in with your credit card or bank account balance is a healthy way to remind yourself of your budget and to see if your spending is on track to meet it. Thinking about your financial health before the new year can give you a big boost on your resolutions.   ## Getting Caught Up in the Season of Spending Just because holiday sales are going strong doesn’t mean that you need what they’re selling. A deal is only a deal if you already needed that item in the first place. It’s easy to demolish your bank account if you spend on items you don’t actually require, so do some deep thinking about what you really need to buy. If you can, give yourself a day or so to think about a big purchase before making it. Sleeping on a decision goes a long way to keep spending in check.    ![RMCU\_Habits-3\_c](https://rmcu.net/hs-fs/hubfs/RMCU_Habits-3_c.jpg?width=5787&name=RMCU_Habits-3_c.jpg) ## Giving in to FOMO “Fear of missing out,” “keeping up with the Joneses” – call it what you want, but buying something to project a particular image if it’s a look you can’t afford will quickly do some damage to your budget. You don’t need to shower someone with expensive gifts to show them you care, and you don’t need to make a big purchase just because your neighbors have a new shiny something in their driveway.    ## Binging On Parties When there’s so much going on for the season, a few extra drinks with friends or a fancy meat and cheese plate for the office Christmas party can start to add up. It’s okay to let your hair down a little and celebrate, but just be conscious of how much you’re spending and whether or not it fits into your plan.   For more money tips and financial tricks to help you through the holidays, visit the rest of the [RMCU blog](https://www.rmcu.net/blog). ##### Rocky Mountain Credit Union Share the Love [mailto:?subject=6%20Bad%20Habits%20That%20Can%20Ruin%20Your%20Holiday%20Budget&body=https%3A%2F%2Frmcu.net%2Fblog%2F6-bad-habits-ruin-holiday-budget](mailto:?subject=6%20Bad%20Habits%20That%20Can%20Ruin%20Your%20Holiday%20Budget&body=https%3A%2F%2Frmcu.net%2Fblog%2F6-bad-habits-ruin-holiday-budget) You May Like These ## Related Articles ![](https://rmcu.net/hs-fs/hubfs/RMCU-Benefits-of-having-a-Checking-and-Savings-Account-Blog-Header.jpg?width=700&name=RMCU-Benefits-of-having-a-Checking-and-Savings-Account-Blog-Header.jpg) Financial Literacy ### [6 Benefits of Having a Checking & Savings Account](https://rmcu.net/blog/6-benefits-of-having-a-checking-savings-account) Here are a few of the benefits of having both a checking account and a savings account. Keep Reading ![](https://rmcu.net/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-655097456.jpg?width=700&name=iStock-655097456.jpg) Financial Literacy ### [Planning for Medical Emergencies: Using an HSA to Your Benefit](https://rmcu.net/blog/planning-for-medical-emergencies-via-hsa) Where your health is concerned, a Health Savings Account, or HSA for short, is a solid way to prepar... Keep Reading ![](https://rmcu.net/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-1051659174.jpg?width=700&name=iStock-1051659174.jpg) Financial Literacy ### [Lessons They Didn't Teach You In School: How to Be a Financial Wiz Kid](https://rmcu.net/blog/how-to-be-a-financial-wiz-kid) Classrooms are good for a lot of things, but good financial skills are sometimes hard to find there.... Keep Reading ## [**FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM**](https://www.instagram.com/rockymountaincu/?hl=en) - [Privacy Policy](https://rmcu.net/hubfs/DISCLOSURES%20(FILES)/Privacy_Notice.pdf) - [ADA Compliance](https://rmcu.net/ada-compliance) - [Careers](https://rmcu.net/membership/about-rmcu/careers) - [Fee Schedule](https://rmcu.net/hubfs/DISCLOSURES%20(FILES)/RMCU_ScheduleOfCharges_Members_2024-DIGITAL-2.pdf) ![Equal Housing Leader](https://rmcu.net/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/RMCU_2022/images/home-lender-logo.png?width=140&name=home-lender-logo.png "Equal Housing Leader") ![American Strategic Insurance](https://rmcu.net/hubfs/raw_assets/public/RMCU_2022/images/asi-logo.svg "placeholder_200x200") Each account is insured by American Share Insurance up to $250,000. By members' choice, this institution is not federally insured. [![RMCULogoColor.jpg](https://rmcu.net/hubfs/RMCU-logo.svg "RMCULogoColor.jpg")](https://rmcu.net) All share and loan accounts are subject to membership eligibility. Equal Housing Opportunity. **RMCU NMLS# 585490** © 2026 Rocky Mountain Credit Union All Rights Reserved × ## You Are Leaving Our Website You are leaving the Rocky Mountain Credit Union website and accessing a third-party website. The privacy, security, and accessibility policies of third-party websites may differ from those of Rocky Mountain Credit Union. We encourage you to review the policies of any website you visit. Rocky Mountain Credit Union is not responsible for the content, privacy, security, or availability of external websites and does not endorse or guarantee the products, services, or information they provide. Stay Here Continue ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Rocky Mountain Credit Union", "url" : "https://rmcu.net/blog/author/rocky-mountain-credit-union" }, "dateModified" : "2024-01-22T20:40:07.929Z", "datePublished" : "2020-11-11T16:30:00.000Z", "headline" : "6 Bad Habits That Can Ruin Your Holiday Budget", "image" : [ "https://rmcu.net/hubfs/RMCU_Habits-1_c.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://rmcu.net/blog/6-bad-habits-ruin-holiday-budget", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://rmcu.net/hubfs/RMCU-logo.svg" }, "name" : "Rocky Mountain Credit Union" } } ```