Holiday budget
How to split a $500 holiday budget
With $500 to cover the whole season, gifts are the biggest line. Enter how many people you buy for to see your gift budget per person. The table underneath splits the full $500 across six categories.
$275 for gifts across 10 people is $28 each.
Example: $500 split by category
These are common starting splits that we use in our own calculator: 55% for gifts, then food, travel, decorations, wrapping and a buffer. They are our own rule of thumb, not survey data. Your plans (a big dinner, a long trip) will move them.
| Category | Share | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gifts | 55% | $275 |
| Food & drink | 20% | $100 |
| Travel | 10% | $50 |
| Decorations | 6% | $30 |
| Cards, wrapping & postage | 4% | $20 |
| Buffer for surprises | 5% | $25 |
| Total | 100% | $500 |
Gift budget per person from $275
Divide the gift total by the number of people on your list (plain arithmetic):
| Gift list size | Per person |
|---|---|
| 5 people | $55 |
| 10 people | $28 |
| 15 people | $18 |
| 20 people | $14 |
| 25 people | $11 |
Making $500 stretch
- Set the total before you shop. Everything else in the table follows from that number.
- Give close family more, acquaintances less. The per-person figure is an average, so keep the amounts adding up to $275.
- Keep the 5% buffer. On $500 that is $25 for the gift you forgot, shipping fees or a changed flight.
- Log each purchase the day you buy it. Small buys like wrapping paper and postage are what push totals over.
Working with a different amount? See the example for $1,000, $2,000, $3,000 or use the full calculator.
Want to track it in a spreadsheet?
The $7 Holiday Budget Planner has a budget per person, a purchases log that turns red when you overspend, a weekly savings plan and a checklist. Not what you expected? Email for a refund within 30 days.