Saving for the holidays year round can help reduce stress, avoid last minute debt, and give you more flexibility to enjoy the season. With the right plan and the right savings tools, you can make holiday saving simple and automatic. The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to start!

Why Saving for the Holidays All Year Long Makes Sense

Spreading holiday expenses out over the course of the year has real financial benefits:

• Less stress during the holidays: You’ll already have funds set aside when the season arrives.
• Avoid high-interest debt: Planning ahead can help reduce reliance on credit cards or loans.
• More room in your monthly budget: Smaller, consistent deposits are easier to manage than one large expense at the last minute.
• Greater flexibility: Having holiday funds ready allows you to enjoy experiences, traditions, and generosity without guilt.

Starting early puts you in control before holiday costs pile up.

How Our Holiday Club Account Helps You Stay on Track

First Financial’s Holiday Club Account is designed specifically to help you save consistently for holiday expenses throughout the year.* Instead of trying to remember to set money aside, this account makes saving structured and simple.

Here’s how it works and why it’s effective:

• Open at any time: You don’t have to wait for a specific season to get started.
• Automatic renewal: Your account will renew each year, so holiday saving becomes an ongoing habit.
• Annual dividends: Dividends are posted annually on balances of $100 or more.
• Dedicated purpose: Keeping holiday savings separate helps prevent spending these funds on everyday expenses.

By the end of October, your Holiday Club funds will be deposited directly into your First Financial account, ready for you to use.

Make Saving Easy with Automation

One of the biggest reasons people struggle to save is simply forgetting, or feeling like there’s never extra money left at the end of the month. Automation removes that barrier.

With a Holiday Club Account, deposits can be made in ways that fit your lifestyle:

• Payroll deductions: Automatically direct a portion of your paycheck into your Holiday Club Account.
• Direct deposit: Set up recurring transfers from your income.
• In-person or mail deposits: Add funds whenever it’s convenient.

Even small, regular contributions can add up over time. For example, saving $20–$25 per week throughout the year can create a meaningful holiday fund by the time the season arrives.

The Power of Starting Early

Opening a Holiday Club Account early in the year gives your savings more time to grow and removes pressure later on. Instead of scrambling in the fall, you’ll already be prepared with less financial strain and more peace of mind.

Saving year round also allows you to adjust as life changes. You can increase or decrease contributions, plan ahead for travel, or prepare for larger holiday goals without feeling rushed.

Plan Ahead and Make the Season More Enjoyable

The holidays should be about connection, celebration, and enjoying time with loved ones – not worrying about finances. Saving year round helps you plan ahead, stay organized, and feel confident when the holiday season arrives. A little planning today, can make a big difference tomorrow.

Stop into your local branch, call 732-312-1500, or contact us to get started today!

*A First Financial membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties. A $5 deposit in a base savings account is required for credit union membership prior to opening any other account. All personal memberships are part of the Rewards First program and a $5 per month non-participation fee is charged to the base savings account for memberships not meeting the minimum requirements of the program. Click here to view full Rewards First program details. Some restrictions apply, contact the credit union for more information.