My kids finally know Santa isn't real, and I'm thrilled. I can now rein in my holiday budget.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
a woman placing a present under the christmas tree
The author is saving money this Christmas.

cmogopor/Getty Images

My kids already lead privileged lives, so I refuse to go all out at Christmas

Tech Insider : Business, Sports, Style
Bare christmas tree

Antonio Gravante/Getty Images

My husband and I spend nearly $20,000 a year on childcare. I work two jobs and cut back on my lifestyle, but it's worth it for my kids.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Technology
Clory Jackson and Mouhamadou Diaman standing in formal attire
Clory Jackson and Mouhamadou Diaman, raise their 4-year-old and a 2-year-old while working full-time

Clory Jackson

These 5 gift-giving rules keep Christmas meaningful — and affordable — for our family of 6

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
A young girl with her face obscured by four presents. a Christmas tree is in the background.
The author has come up with 5 rules to keep gift giving in check during the holiday season, including limiting her kids (not shown) to four gifts each.

Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

When life gets expensive, my family of 7 plays the 'no-spend week' challenge. Here's the gist.

Tech Insider : Business
A parent and child write down their budget using receipts with an iphone and a laptop.
I have 5 kids, so unexpected costs can come up.

Images By Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images

3 tips for protecting your budget during the holidays, from a financial behavior expert

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
Headshot of Brittany Greene, a financial behavioral strategist.
Brittany Greene is a financial behavioral strategist.

Courtesy of Self Financial

I flew Frontier Airlines from Atlanta to Newark for $112 round-trip. It wasn't a deal — it was a compromise.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Manseen Logan flying Frontier airlines
Traveling on Frontier Airlines required many sacrifices, but the flight was smooth.

Manseen Logan/BI

A 25-year banking pro says to be skeptical of social media tips and start investing 'any amount' you can

Tech Insider : Business
Headshot of Racquel Oden
Racquel Oden is the US head of wealth and private banking at HSBC.

Photo courtesy of Racquel Oden

It feels like I'm constantly spending money on my kids between September and December. I'm budgeting differently this year.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
a woman holding a receipt and her phone with more transactions
The author spends a lot on her teen at the end of the year.

Fly View Productions/Getty Images

Our 4 kids only participate in 1 after-school activity each. It helps us stay on budget and leaves room for family time.

Tech Insider : Sports, Business, Travel
A girl wearing a red shirt and white socks balances on a soccer ball on the side of a field.
The author said she limits her kids (not pictured) to participating in one after-school activity at a time.

Halfpoint Images/Getty Images

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