Celebrate the Season with Confidence: Your Holiday Financial Checklist December 16, 2025 The holidays should bring joy. However, when every trip to the grocery store or gas station feels more expensive than the last, the season can also bring a heavy dose of stress. In 2025, 67% of Americans report living paycheck to paycheck1. Even households with steady incomes are struggling to keep up with recent tariff increases, leaving little room for holiday travel, gifts, or hosting holiday gatherings. Celebrating does not have to mean draining your savings or racking up credit card debt. With planning and budget-conscious choices – you can still enjoy traditions that matter. Review Your Budget Use our Digital Banking app to stay on top of your finances. Track your spending with Spending Analysis or view a snapshot of money coming in and out of your account with the Cash Flow tool. You can identify areas where you may be overspending and eliminate costs or comparison shop if possible. Budgeting isn’t about guilt, rather it is a way to ensure you’re saving a little each month – ideally 10% of your income. Less still counts. Automate Savings Consider the “set it and forget it” approach to allocating savings so that when peak holiday spending season comes around, you’ve avoided (or at least minimized) high interest credit card balances that can put a damper on the season and coming year. Look into opening a holiday-specific savings account at your financial institution and start saving now. We offer a Holiday Club Savings where you can tuck away money each month to be ready for seasonal shopping. Strategize Debt Repayment Review the balances and interest rates of your credit cards, loans, and other debts. Tackle high-interest payments first (so you’re able to put more toward principal in the long run). We have partnered with GreenPath Financial Wellness to provide our member-owners with access to one-on-one financial counseling, debt management services, and financial education tools. Check Your Credit Report Pull your free credit report within Digital Banking and review all your balances, monthly payments, and percentage paid off. You can also review the report for any inaccuracies or signs of identity theft, and promptly dispute any errors, as they may be contributing to a lower credit score. Revisit Investments If you have any investment accounts, assess whether your allocations still align with your long-term goals and risk tolerance. Market conditions often change, and your investment strategy should account for these fluctuations. Community First Financial Advisors, a full-service investment program, are here to provide individualized guidance on where you are, where you want to go and how to get there. Set up a complimentary, no obligation meeting today. Maximize Retirement Contributions If you have a retirement account, check your contributions, and see if you have any room in your budget to increase them. This especially applies if your employer offers matching contributions, as it’s essentially free money. The sooner you invest, the more time your money has to grow. Review Insurance Policies Ensure that your health, auto, home, and life insurance policies still meet your needs. Life changes such as marriage, the birth of a child, or significant purchases might necessitate adjustments to your coverage or comparison shopping for more favorable rates. Contact our Financial Advisors Sign up for our monthly newsletter 1 PNC Bank 2025 Financial Wellness In the Workplace Report: What Workers Value Most, Across Generations Copyright 2006-2025 GreenPath. All rights reserved. GreenPath does not provide investment, tax, or legal advice. The information presented here is not specific to any individual’s personal circumstances. 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