K-State specialist offers tips for managing holiday spending

 

From Halloween through the Super Bowl, families face many budget decisions

 

At a glance: K-State Family Resource Management Specialist Elizabeth Kiss says holiday crossover -- Halloween through Christmas and even on to the Super Bowl -- heightens the chance that consumers will overspend.

More information: Elizabeth Kiss, 785-532-1946, dekiss4@ksu.edu

Related: How Are You Doing? A Financial Checkup

Oct. 26, 2026

By Pat Melgares, K-State Extension news service

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Halloween decorations are sharing store shelves with Christmas trees and holiday merchandise, giving consumers more time to plan seasonal celebrations.

But Kansas State University Family Resource Management Specialist Elizabeth Kiss says the holiday crossover also heightens the chance that consumers will overspend.

“On the one hand, it's really great because it gives us more time to plan and more time to spread out the expenses of the things that we choose to buy,” Kiss said. “On the other hand, it may also encourage us to spend more than we otherwise would have.”

Kiss encourages consumers to make a spending plan that accounts for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and even the Super Bowl.

Her advice is to make a list or spreadsheet if that is helpful to you, and track expenses throughout the season. “Consumers should consider what makes a celebration meaningful, what they feel they can afford and which expenses they are willing to forgo,” Kiss said.

Money management, she says, is about making choices rather than feeling deprived.

“We don't have to feel as if we're somehow a failure or we're losing something,” she said. “This is not about scarcity. This is about what we can do and what we want to do.”

Food is another area where families can look for savings. The cost of Halloween candy, Thanksgiving meals, Christmas cookies and other seasonal foods can quickly add up.

Kiss said preparing food from scratch may cost less than purchasing pre-packaged or quick-cooking alternatives, particularly for households with the necessary skills and time.

Holiday baking and other preparations also can become opportunities for families to spend time together and build traditions. Children and teenagers may enjoy participating more than parents expect, she said, and those shared experiences can become traditions they carry into their own households.

Kiss recommends weighing three resources when planning celebrations: time, money and skills. Families can decide how much time they want to devote to preparations, how much they can comfortably spend and which tasks they can handle themselves.

And, she adds, be careful paying with credit cards. A sale may not be a bargain if the balance carries a high interest rate. Consumers should consider whether a purchase is worth going into debt for, how long repayment will take and how much interest they will pay.

Families also can use holiday spending as an opportunity to talk with children about money, goals and values. Advertising and social media can give young people unrealistic ideas about what other families do during the holidays, Kiss said.

Parents can explain that their family may choose a less expensive celebration to save for a summer vacation, home renovation, college expenses or other important spending goals.

All families can ask children which activity would mean the most to them, she said. The answer might be baking cookies, attending a holiday movie or having a movie night at home.

When shopping for groceries, Kiss advises watching prices over several weeks to recognize genuine deals. Coupons and sales can help, but consumers need to know whether a price is actually low.

Families also can consider an outdoor activity, such as visiting a pumpkin patch or buying a Christmas tree from a local lot. Such activities may add to the holiday experience without increasing overall spending.

Kiss notes that planning for the final months of the year should not come at the expense of longer-term financial goals. The challenge is to enjoy the season while staying within comfortable limits.

More information about managing finances is available at local extension offices in Kansas.

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K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the wellbeing of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.