The holidays are supposed to be joyful — but for millions of Americans, they're followed by January credit card statements that ruin the mood for months. The average holiday shopper carries seasonal debt well into spring, paying interest on gifts that were forgotten by February. It doesn't have to be that way. A holiday budget isn't about being cheap. It's about deciding in advance what the season costs — so January you doesn't pay for December you's impulses. Step 1: Set Your Total Number First Before you buy a single gift, pick one number: the total you're willing to spend on the entire season. Not per person, not per category — the total. Include everything: gifts, decorations, food, travel, parties, charitable giving, even the "little" stuff like wrapping paper and holiday coffee runs. Those little things are where budgets quietly die. A realistic starting point: 1% of your annual take-home income. If you bring home $60,000, that's $60...