Every season of the year is brought about with a significant Holiday. Whether it be the Forth of July, Thanksgiving, or family birthdays, holidays come with a hefty cost sometimes. According to the National Retail Federation, spending for winter holidays could reach $720 billion this year. This is between a 4.3 and 4.8 percent increase from last year. Locally, you wonder how individuals and families make it through the holiday season without getting in so much debt.

The Whitley County Family and Consumer Sciences agent taught a homemaker leader lesson in eight counties in the area that talked about how to craft a budget for any chosen holiday. It reminded them to keep expenses like gasoline and groceries in mind, as these also play a significant role in where money goes. This lesson was in collaboration with each county's extension Homemakers. They learned how to teach this lesson to each club in their county by getting the resources they needed. Each county was given a budget for a particular holiday and they were given a significantly less amount to create the same holiday celebration. They got the opportunity to compare each budget and become more creative at developing a plan for food, decorations, and gifts.

Evaluations were handed out and several commented about how they've seen Holidays where times were significantly harder than what they are now. Generational difference were also discussed. This lesson reached approximately 500 Wilderness Trail Area Homemakers.