Happy New Year, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season. Now that it's January once more, it's time to tally up the damage from the holiday season... that is, if you didn't plan for the damage already!

Unfortunately, Christmas and New Year's is a season where many folks go into debt. Some are still carrying debt from the prior year. Holiday spending doesn't have to be a surprise, however. If you start now, you can set aside a little bit each month so that when next December arrives, your holiday spending category will be stuffed as a stocking.

So, today, pour a cup of coffee, sit down, and tally up your holiday spending from 2025. Don't forget travel and extra groceries! Divide that number by 12 -- that's your monthly savings target for the 2026 holiday category. Set aside that amount each month and next December your holiday spending will be stress and guilt free. If you use the YNAB software, you can set this amount as a target in your holiday category and YNAB will do the math for you. Simply set a target for December with the total amount you want to save in your holiday category, and YNAB will tell you how much you need to set aside in the category each month to get there.

Here's to getting better with money, one target at a time, in 2026!

Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow

Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:

askjesse@ynab.com

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Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow

Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:

askjesse@ynab.com

Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Follow YNAB on social media:

Facebook: @ynabofficial

Instagram: @ynab.official

Twitter/X: @ynab

Tik Tok: @ynabofficial

It's a common trap to think that making more money is the answer to your financial worries. Many people think that if they just had a bigger income, then they'd be able to afford everything they needed and wanted, and they wouldn't have to worry anymore. But a recent experience reminded Jesse that this simply isn't true.

Jesse spoke at an event with wealthy business owners, and he posed a simple question to the audience: "who here is worried about money?" Every hand went up. Now, these people may not be worried about paying the monthly electric bill, but they do have money worries -- perhaps worried for their kids, perhaps worried about meeting payroll... whatever the reason, the worry is there.

There's another old adage, "more money, more problems." This is closer to the truth, but it doesn't have to be that either. With YNAB you can learn to align your spending habits with your goals and vision for the future; you can bring your money in line with your idea of the good life. YNAB helps you break the paycheck to paycheck cycle and finally remove money as a stressor in your life.

Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow

Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:

askjesse@ynab.com

Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Follow YNAB on social media:

Facebook: @ynabofficial

Instagram: @ynab.official

Twitter/X: @ynab

Tik Tok: @ynabofficial