As cheesy as it sounds, my favorite part about implementing a budget was how it helped calm my anxiety and made it easier to stay present with my loved ones. I stopped feeling so frazzled around the holidays and my mental health greatly improved. I gained a greater appreciation for the traditions, time shared with others and experiences rather than worrying about the price of gifts or how I’d pay off my credit card come January. Now, every fall, I repeat the same tradition I started a decade ago. I set some time aside to look through my statements and create my holiday budget.
