Smart Summer Moves: How to outsmart the holiday budget crunch

As we approach the latter half of 2026, there’s no better time to plan ahead and avoid the holiday budget crunch. The holidays will be here before you know it, and with them comes the costs of travel, gifts and celebrations. It’s best to get prepared now to skip the November financial squeeze.

Here are a few simple tips to help you come out ahead this holiday season:

1. Start saving now – By starting to save today, you can avoid the financial strain that often comes in November and December. With Digital Banking¹, it’s easy to automate deposits to your Savings Account or High-Yield Savings Account², so you can build a strong buffer for your holiday spending plans without even thinking about it.
   Never set up an automatic transfer in Digital Banking before? It’s simple!
   • Select Transfers from the navigation Menu.
   • Using the "From" and "To" options, select the account the funds will be taken from and the account you wish to transfer to.
   • Enter the transfer Amount.
   • Select More options to set it up as a recurring transfer.
   • After selecting More options, click Frequency and choose how often the transfer should occur.
   • Use the calendar to select the start date, then click Submit when you’re finished.
2. Lock in your travel plans – If you’re planning to fly home for the holidays, booking early is key. Airlines and travel booking sites often raise prices as the peak holiday season approaches. Securing your flight before fall sets in will allow you to save money that you can put toward gifts and other holiday expenses.
3. Utilize reward programs – Why not earn while you spend? Using reward programs like cash back can stretch your budget further during the holiday season. At Abound, our Visa Platinum Credit Card®³ offers 5% cash back on gas purchases when you pay at the pump and 1%* on all other purchases³. Plus, with our CashBack+⁴ program available through Digital Banking, you can earn money by purchasing gift cards to shop!
4. Spread out your gift shopping – Instead of waiting until December to do all your holiday shopping, spread it out now through the end of the year. This approach helps you avoid spending a large amount of money at once, preventing budget overwhelm or the need to rely on high-interest debt.

Getting ahead on holiday planning during the summer is one of the smartest financial moves you can make. By automating your savings and planning early, you’ll head into the winter months ready to relax and enjoy the festivities with peace of mind.

Interested in an Abound Visa Platinum® Credit Card? Visit your local branch or apply online to get started.