Here comes the season of eggnog, elves, and excess.

The holidays, wonderful as they can be, may be responsible for most of our annual bloat: Studies show the average American puts on 2-5 pounds from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Over the long run, the average American gains 1-2 pounds per year. Said differently, many people gain most of their annual weight over the holidays!

Holiday shopping can have a similar effect on our finances. Last year, the average person spent $1,500 on gifts. Most of that spending went onto credit cards. Unsurprisingly, by January 2023 credit card balances reached a multi-year high.

 The good news is that the cycle doesn’t need to continue. If you can win the holidays, you can win the year.

Here’s what we suggest:

 Planned Days off:

Mix in a 24-hour fast (like Sunday Night to Monday Dinner) to reset your system.

Spending freezes for a day: You’ll be surprised to notice how many convenience items you don’t need.

 One for them, one for me:

Match your shopping spend with debt paydown or saving deposits.

If you’re heading to a party at night, exercise and eat lightly during the day.

 Moderation and Substitution:

Substitute a lower-calorie version of your favorite food or drink.

Coupon or buy off-brand. Adding a browser extension (like Honey or Capital One) can help to find the best deals on online purchases.

The best things about the holidays don’t usually have a price tag. We don’t need to eat, drink, and spend so much that January feels like a rehab program. A little moderation can go a long way towards setting you up well for 2024.