Origin’s Holiday Spending Guide for a Stress-Free Season

The clocks have gone back, and the temperature has begun to drop. Which means one thing… The holiday season is nearly upon us! 

For many, this brings joy and excitement, but it can also bring stress. Between wanting to show loved ones you care and managing a budget that might already feel stretched thin, the holidays can be financially overwhelming. So how do you give generously and celebrate meaningfully without derailing your financial goals? That's where Origin comes in.

We’re here to give you some tips on how to use Origin to make your holiday spending more intentional, with some strategies from our in-house Certified Financial Planners®. 

CFP® Tip #1: Plan early. 

It might sound easier said than done, but all financial experts agree: The best way to avoid holiday overspending is to plan ahead. Here are some things to do before you start shopping.

Learn from last year.

Knowing how you spent last year can keep you alert to the categories where you risk overspending this year. 

Once you’ve connected your accounts to Origin, this is as easy as asking AI Advisor to analyze your spending from November and December 2024. This gives you a realistic basis for planning your budget this year, and reveals expenses that you might have forgotten about. Use this as a basis for your spending going into holiday season 2025.

Understand your buying power.

Before you start shopping, you need to know what you can actually afford. 

Origin has your complete financial picture — including your income, savings patterns and spending history — so it can create a personalized budget for you in seconds. Use AI Budget Builder to create and set your monthly budgets, or ask AI Advisor to tell you what you can spend this season guilt-free. Tweak the personalized recommendations and use it to create either a dedicated holiday spending category or adjust your November and December budgets accordingly. 

Don’t forget non-gift expenses. 

Gifts are probably what you immediately think of when planning your holiday budget, but they’re only one part of the season — and should only be one part of your budget. Your holiday spending plan should include everything from plane tickets to Grandma and Grandpa’s, stocking the bar for your annual party, and printing and sending your family’s holiday card. 

Start with your overall budget — build it from scratch with our AI Budget Builder, or lean on AI Advisor if you need a refresh — and create one-off monthly budgets for categories where you know you’ll be spending more this holiday season. (Toggle off “Apply to all future months” when editing your budget.)

Make a plan — and write it down.

Once you know your overall spending limit and budget categories, it's time to get specific about where that money is going. Tyler Horn, CFP® and Head of Planning at Origin recommends this approach: Write down “everyone you’d like to give to this year. It could be anyone from family and friends to your dog walker and favorite bartender. Then set a total spending limit and divide it up among the names. If the math doesn’t add up, don’t panic, just adjust your list or the gift type. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s planning.”

Tell AI Advisor who you’re shopping for, what you want to give, and see the direct impact on your overall holiday spending goal.

This exercise does two things: It forces you to be realistic about your list (no, you probably can't afford $100 gifts for 30 people) and it takes the guesswork out of shopping.

CFP®  Tip #2: Track your spending (or risk a January surprise). 

Creating a budget is one thing, actually sticking to it is another. Hetika Ladhani, CFP®, says that “tracking your spending in real-time ensures you stay within your budget, helping you adjust as needed and avoid post-holiday debt.”

Origin makes this easy with real-time tracking across all accounts, weekly spending summaries, and AI-powered insights that explain the impact on your budget. Here are some strategies to help:  

Spend with intention.

If something’s not on your list, think twice about buying it. One strategy? If there’s not a time limit on the deal you’ve gotten, wait a few days with the item in your cart. You’d be surprised how often the urge passes. 

And when you’re still feeling unsure, ask AI Advisor if it’s worth it. It will give you an unbiased answer that considers your current budget, financial goals, as well as current deals and pricing in the market.

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Check in weekly.

Origin makes this step easy. Get in the habit of reading your Weekly Recaps, which summarize your cash flow and spending trends over the past seven days. Want a pulse-check before Friday? Use Instant Insights (the ✦ button in the top right corner of any widget) to go deep into changes in your spending — it’s a 30-second habit that can make all the difference.

You can also add our iOS widget to your phone home screen so you can see, at a glance, how your spending is tracking against your monthly budget. 

Watch your credit card utilization.

Origin’s CFP® network overwhelmingly recommends avoiding high-interest debt whenever possible. And here’s something some members may not realize: Origin shows you the percentage of available credit you’re using on each card. This matters especially during the holidays because high credit utilization (generally above 30%) can hurt your credit score, and maxing out cards means you're likely taking on high-interest debt you'll be paying off well into next year. 

To find this helpful data point via your main dashboard, tap “Net Worth” and the credit card account you’re using, and you’ll see your latest credit card utilization. Or when in doubt, just ask AI Advisor. 

The bottom line

Planning ahead is key — but it only works if you actually hold yourself to your budget and gift list. Make checking Origin as routine as checking your email, and you'll end the holidays feeling in control instead of anxious.

Ready to take control of your holiday spending? Join Origin for just $1 for your first year. (Normally $99, limited time only.)