Episode 456: How to Manage Holiday Money Anxiety

In this week's solo episode, I'm diving into something many of us feel, but don't always say out loud holiday money anxiety. This season can be full of joy, nostalgia, and family connection, but it can also bring up guilt, pressure, overspending, and emotional triggers that hit our wallets hard. So today, I'm sharing honest reflections on the expectations we carry, the emotional weight of holiday giving, and how I personally navigate the overwhelm of gifting, family obligations, and wanting to "do enough" without draining my finances or my energy. I walk you through practical strategies for shifting your mindset, breaking old patterns, and giving yourself permission to rethink how you show up this season. In this episode, I discuss: Guilt-free gifting: How to focus on intention instead of price tags, and ways to simplify gifts especially for kids who may value the moment more than the item itself.Setting family & personal boundaries: What to say when you want to keep things simple, stick to a budget, or opt out without shame.Overspending triggers: Why boredom, stress, nostalgia, and scarcity mindset push us to buy more and how to create friction to avoid impulse purchases.Reframing the season: How to shift from "stuff" to connection, small rituals, meaning, and presence.Planning ahead for next year: Using what you spent this season to set realistic expectations and savings goals for the future. Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Get your copy of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already.Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here.Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!Get The Budget BootcampCheck out my personal website here.Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with me: Instagram: @JourneytolaunchTwitter: @JourneyToLaunchFacebook: @Journey To LaunchJoin the Private Facebook GroupJoin the Waitlist for My FI CourseGet The Free Jumpstart Guide