Holiday Money Moves - End of Year Tax Moves and Escaping Christmas Debt

The final stretch of the year can either be a financial drift or a decisive sprint. We chose the sprint. Steven and John share a sharp, good-humored guide to closing your books with confidence: practical tax moves you can still make before December 31 and a clear plan to dodge the holiday debt trap that ruins too many Januarys.

We start with the why: deadlines lock your choices, not your hopes. Then we dig into what you can act on now—bumping those 401(k) contributions on your last paychecks, catching up IRA or Roth IRA contributions, and exploring whether prepaying mortgage interest or property taxes could move the needle on deductions. It’s straightforward, action-first advice aimed at helping you lower your tax bill while aligning your money with your values.

From there, we turn to holiday spending sanity. Learn how to attack Christmas debt with a highest-interest-first approach, when a 0% balance transfer makes sense, and why returning unused gifts is more powerful than letting them gather dust. We walk through the holiday damage report, a simple method to replace dread with clarity, and we map out prevention for next year: a Christmas sinking fund, the four-gift rule, and strategies to avoid emotional shopping. Expect practical ideas, a few laughs, and a reminder that thoughtful gestures often mean more than big price tags.

Stay to the end for a fun sponsor spotlight featuring The Santa Stephen and a brain-health book rec, plus a programming note: a special Christmas history episode narrated by Santa Stephen and Mrs. Claus, and our move to YouTube in January 2026. If this helped you breathe easier about money and the holidays, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome And Show Focus
• 2:10 Why Year-End Planning Matters
• 3:00 Maxing Retirement Contributions
• 4:10 Prepaying Interest And Taxes
• 4:57 Sponsor: The Santa Stephen
• 9:21 Sponsor: Brain Health Book
• 10:00 Tackling Christmas Debt Now
• 11:20 Avoiding Holiday Debt Next Year
• 13:20 Closing Thoughts And Announcements