The price tag associated with holiday shopping can impact your family’s finances well past the end of the year.  According to Deloitte’s annual survey, the average consumer is projected to spend $1463 on the holidays, which is a five percent increase over last year.  Nicolet National Bank Training Project Specialist Chastity Hartl says doing early Christmas shopping is fine as long as you establish and stick to your budget.  She offers advice on how you can stay on track with your gift spending this year.

Hartl says people can find many gifts for family members that do not cost any or very little money.  She notes activities like ice skating, snowshoeing and tubing as ways for families to bond and spend quality time together which is a gift in itself.