How to prepare for Christmas, start to finish

Where to start

Most Christmas stress comes from deciding things too late: how much to spend, who you're buying for, what you're cooking and when you'll shop. The guides below put those decisions in order, so December is a plan you follow instead of a scramble.

Like to plan on paper? Our Christmas printables include the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99), an 11-page printable with a holiday budget, a gift list for every person and a Christmas card list.

Start with the money. Our step-by-step holiday budget guide shows how to set one total and split it across gifts, food, travel and decor, and the free Christmas budget calculator suggests a total from your paycheck. If you're wondering what's normal for kids, see how much to spend on Christmas per child or use the spending per kid calculator.

Then build the lists: a Christmas gift list with a budget for every person, a stocking stuffer list and the Christmas planning checklist that tells you what to do each week. For the big meal and the get-togethers, use the Christmas dinner menu planner and the holiday party checklist. When January comes, here's how to pay off holiday debt fast.

If money is tight this year, read Christmas on a tight budget and our guide on how to tell family you're cutting back on gifts. Drawing names keeps a big family exchange affordable, and the Secret Santa rules and budget guide covers the details. When the list is set and you need ideas that fit each person's limit, browse the gift guide.

This hub is for anyone planning a household Christmas on a set budget, from a first year of hosting to a big family gift exchange. Work through the Start here list below in order, then use the full list of Christmas guides as each decision comes up, whether that's a gift for a teacher, the baking list or a cookie exchange. If you'd rather keep everything in one place, the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner pairs printable gift, card, menu and to-do pages with a spreadsheet that tracks what's left for each person. The Holiday Season Bundle adds the Sinking Funds Tracker, which works out how much to set aside each month so next December is already covered.

Start here

1. Set your holiday budget: Pick one total and split it across gifts, food, travel and decor before you buy anything.
2. Make the gift list: Write down every person with a dollar limit, then track what you've bought.
3. Follow the weekly checklist: A week-by-week to-do list from now to Christmas Eve.
4. Save for it: Save toward this year's total, or start next year's Christmas fund in January.