Do you guys remember my post, “8 Things To Do at the Beginning of Every Month”? I talked about certain things that I like to do at the start of each month, and I want to encourage y’all to have a “beginning of month” checklist as well. It has been so helpful (and motivating) for me!

One thing that I have on my “monthly checklist” is to do a quick check of my finances. Well, I’m trying to get #serious about this one. It is so important to keep your finances in check month-to-month so things don’t pile up and then become overwhelming…aka turn into something you just keep avoiding (trust me I know how that goes!). But this is especially important towards the end of the year with the holidays and so many fun (but expensive) things approaching!

To help you get thinking, I have put together a list of things to consider as you prepare your financial plan or budget for November.

Holiday Travel:

Let’s be real here…holiday travel is EXPENSIVE. The airlines/public transportation/rental car companies love to crank up their prices around the holidays. That’s why it’s important to start planning your travel sooner rather than later – especially if you have to purchase a ticket of some sort in order to travel around the holidays. A lot of times you can find flight deals by flying on those less common days (i.e. NOT the day before/after Thanksgiving). Anyway, just keep this expense in mind when you are setting up your budget for November because it might be a big one!

Thanksgiving Dinner:

Speaking of holidays, Thanksgiving is quickly approaching! (give me alllll the food). If you are hosting a big Thanksgiving lunch/dinner, you will probably be cooking…A LOT. Which means your grocery bill for the month will be higher. Maybe, instead, you’re providing a dish for your Thanksgiving gathering or attending a Friendsgiving but whatever it might be – don’t forget to adjust your grocery allowance for the extra food you’ll be supplying during this season of thanksgiving and turkey!

Gifts:

Christmas is officially less than 2 months away! How did that happen?! I LOVE giving to my friends and family at Christmas. It is just so much fun for me. I *try* to start my Christmas shopping in November – sometimes this happens, sometimes it does not. Anyway, this can be your reminder to start thinking about what gifts you want to give to your loved ones this holiday season! When I’m thinking about gifts, I usually like to set a limit on what I want to spend on gifts every year so that I don’t have any huge surprises when I’m going through my spending during November and December. It’s a great way to stay focused on giving as much as you can but it also allows you to keep your finances in check 😊

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Shopping:

There are obviously TONS of deals going on around Thanksgiving so don’t forget to set aside some money to buy some new goodies! Whether you are buying for yourself or for others, it is important that you remember and prepare for all of those good deals that are going to be happening during November. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s great to get ahead on your Christmas shopping just don’t forget to financially prepare for it!!

Christmas Cards:

Christmas cards are my FAVORITE. I love seeing the beautiful photos and hearing about all the updates that my friends and family have to share. But, it’s easy to let the costs of a Christmas card get out of hand. The costs associated with a photographer, cute outfits, printing the cards, and postage can add up quickly. So, make sure you set a budget on how much you are willing to spend IN TOTAL on Christmas cards before you start spending money. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for all of the great discounts and promo codes available at the photo developing sites like Shutterfly, Tiny Prints, Snapfish or Minted!!

Giving:

Lastly, Thanksgiving is a season where you can be so generous. There are tons of ways you can donate or volunteer to help those less fortunate than you. A few great organizations that come to mind are Toys for Tots, Operation Christmas Child and Angel Tree. Whether you are volunteering your time or your money, there are so many ways to help give back during the holidays!

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What some things you are preparing for during the month of November?!