But after several years of dating, I was feeling tapped out when it came to holiday gift ideas for my husband. And to top it off, the number of people I needed to buy for doubled with my in-laws added to the mix. Since I love holiday shopping, I was worried about going overboard with twice the gifts on my “to-buy” list. Yet by putting a few simple rules in place, I managed to stay in control and under budget that first holiday season. Here are some ways I kept things practical: Think outside the box (store) To avoid long retail lines—and ballooning debt—I stuck to homemade gifts whenever I could. I knew my husband’s mothers and sisters loved to spend time in the kitchen, so I decided to roll with a cooking theme for their presents. I bought some high-quality photo albums they could use to store recipe cards, personalized the covers and wrapped up each one with a set of decorative measuring spoons. Making the recipe books was a fun art project for me, and the women in his family absolutely loved them! When it came to my father-in-law, however, things were a little tougher. After playing 20 questions with my husband, I learned that one of his dad’s favorite activities is relaxing on the couch with a good book. So I put together a little package of reading essentials for him to enjoy. I shopped around online for some great deals on non-fiction books and added a nice leather bookmark, along with a small bag of his favorite coffee. Set a price limit Unfortunately, not every gift I planned to get was something I could make at home. So, to keep my spending on track, I set a price limit of $60 for each present I purchased. I found that creating this cost ceiling was a great way to enjoy the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping without letting myself go too crazy. Using a popular group deal site, I was able to get my husband a gift certificate to a downtown restaurant he’d wanted to try for ages—and still had enough money to make him a framed copy of our wedding vows. Simplify shopping with a name drawing Since my siblings and I were all getting older (and many of us had big expenses around the corner), my mom suggested that we have a name drawing to cut down on the number of gifts we’d buy for the coming holiday. We decided that each of us would draw one family member’s name, putting us in charge of only one gift apiece. With a combination of coupons and extensive comparison shopping, I was able to get my sister the cozy pair of winter boots she’d had her eye on. She couldn’t have been more thrilled. In fact, the name drawing was such a success that we’ve kept it going in the couple of years since! There are so many things to look forward to during the holidays—and feeling overwhelmed by a pricey list of presents isn’t one of them. By focusing on thoughtful gifts that stay within your budget, you can have a happy, healthy holiday that doesn’t break the bank.

But as I got older, my financial goals became a bit more serious than saving for a new outfit or night out. Shortly after getting married, my husband and I laid out our big-picture priorities like buying a home. Suddenly, spending money freely on clothes and entertainment felt less like fun and more like a bad habit we both needed to break. We started talking honestly about our spending habits and decided to set up a budget that could help us save for the future. It wasn’t easy at first, but now, spending less is practically second nature. Along the way we learned some tricks for putting our finances in line with our priorities:

Remember your budget goals

Think hard about what you’re saving for, whether it’s furniture to fill up your new place or paying off your student loans more quickly, and write those priorities down. For us, saving for a house and chipping away at credit card debts were at the top of the list. Make sure to divvy up short and long-term goals, so you can keep in mind which ones to focus on in the immediate future. From there, you can estimate how much you’d need to save to reach each goal and re-evaluate the ones that seem unrealistic. Then, put this list under lock and key, as you’ll want to revisit it a few times a year to determine whether you’re on track.

Be smart about spending

For the first few months we lived together, we tracked our spending habits to see where our money went. We were able to track most expenses by checking our online credit card and checking account statements. For cash expenses, we simply held onto receipts until it was time to evaluate what we’d spent for the week. Once we saw what we spent the most money on (i.e. fun with friends and dining out), we were able to identify places where we could cut back. Then, we divided our primary expenses into categories (groceries, entertainment, toiletries, etc.) and put a cap on how much we could spend in each category per month. To help us track how well we stayed within our limits, we created a spreadsheet with columns for each category. We also added an emergency fund to the mix. Given the challenges of today’s job market, we try to keep a cash cushion that would cover at least 6 months’ worth of expenses. But this spreadsheet would be useless if we never took the time to update it. So, every Sunday since, we’ve spent a little time tallying our expenditures and adding them to the appropriate columns. While this isn’t the most exciting weekend activity, it’s a great way for us to start the week feeling organized and in control of our finances.

Account for your accounts

One of the tougher decisions we made was whether or not to combine our bank accounts. While I saw how combining our accounts could simplify our spending, I also liked the safety net of having my own account. In the end, we opted to keep our personal accounts, which we use to make smaller purchases for ourselves, like a new piece of clothing or a lunch out, in addition to opening a joint checking account, from which we pay our joint expenses, such as utilities and car payments. We also have a joint savings account for all those big costs we anticipate down the road. Setting time aside to figure out your finances can be a major headache. But, as we’ve found, putting in a little effort each week can reap major benefits for your bank account and your sense of security. And besides, that second pair of shoes will still be waiting for you next month.

For more information about personal finance and budgeting, visit Allstate.com.

As newlyweds, my husband and I realized that we needed to start planning for our next big adventures, like buying a home, starting a family and enjoying our dream retirement. Laying a foundation for these goals felt overwhelming at first, so we broke them down into individual milestones. Here are some of the lessons we learned along our way:

Get out of the red

Before my husband and I could focus on saving for the things we wanted, we knew we’d have to tackle my least favorite four-letter word: debt. I made it a point to be honest about my financial history before we got married, but we revisited this sticky subject soon after taking our vows. We set aside a weekend to discuss our finances and drafted a spreadsheet that detailed our respective student loans, credit card debt and bank account balances. This helped us prioritize which debts we wanted to pay off first, while continuing to meet the minimum payments for our other debts. In addition, we created a monthly budget for ourselves with the help of Mint.com—and vowed to stick to it. Since 36 percent of young couples argue monthly about money, we work hard to communicate about our spending and stay within the limits we set for ourselves. So far, it’s been going pretty well. When I get tempted to add yet another pair of jeans to my collection, I remember the advice my mom gave me the day I got my first job: “You can’t always control how much income you have coming in, but you can control how much is going out.”

Save up for your own space

For a while, the little townhouse we rented right after we got married worked out great, but eventually, we wanted a bigger space for our future family. Once we decided to make the leap to homeownership, we opened a joint savings account dedicated to our down payment and put a portion of our paychecks into that account each month. During months with three pay periods, we directed the “extra” paychecks into this account, along with our tax refunds at the end of the year. And instead giving us birthday or holiday gifts, we asked our families to make small donations toward our goal. In the end, this strategy worked perfectly for us. After about two years, we had enough for a down payment and used the time we spent saving to figure out exactly what we wanted in a home. Since we’d like to start a family in the next few years, we didn’t try to buy a house at the top of our current price range. Instead, we took into account what type of mortgage we could afford after paying for things like childcare, larger health and life insurance policies, and school fees. After all, the USDA’s Cost of Raising A Child calculator estimates that having just one kid could cost us between $14,000 and $17,000 per year from birth to age 17—college tuition not included. Which is why, no matter how far off a baby is in your future, it’s not a bad idea to plan for the bundle of expenses that come with your bundle of joy.

Rest assured with a retirement plan

I’ve always dreamed of retiring early and spending our empty-nester years making memories with our grandchildren and traveling the world. But I know that unless we start setting money aside now, this blissful future could remain a pipe dream. That’s why my husband and I are diligent about contributing to our employer-sponsored retirement plans. If you’re like us, you may want to consult a financial advisor to determine whether a traditional IRA, Roth IRA or 401(k) is best for you. If your company offers a retirement plan, try to contribute enough to qualify for your employer’s match, otherwise you’ll be walking away from free money. And for additional financial security as you age, it might be worth talking through retirement plans that include disability and long-term care insurance. Money is never easy to discuss, even with your significant other. But to set yourselves up for success, it’s important to plan for the future as soon as possible. Most fairy tales leave this part out, but I’ve found that once you get smart about savings, you can find yourself one step closer to living happily ever after.

I knew there’d be challenges when I moved into my husband’s condo, yet I never imagined we'd disagree more about our furniture than our finances. Though it took time, we were able to find a balance between “bachelor pad chic” and “country cottage.” Here are a couple of tricks that helped us create a space of our own:

Save space for the sentimental

Neither of us wanted to argue about keeping things with a lot of sentimental—and little aesthetic—value. So, when we combined places, we made a rule that we could each set aside three pieces of furniture as non-negotiable keepers. And somehow, we made my grandmother’s childhood dresser work in the same room as my husband’s beanbag chair from college. Before I moved in, we planned exactly where these “no questions asked” items would go and measured them to ensure they’d fit where we envisioned. While these pieces from our past aren’t always pretty, they’re part of what makes our place home.

Divide and conquer

Since we were adding a whole apartment’s worth of furniture to an already full condo, we knew we’d have to say goodbye to some stuff. Who needs two toaster ovens, anyway? When it came to appliances and cookware, we took inventory of our duplicate items and kept the nicer of the two. We asked around at our offices and family gatherings to see if the rejected appliances had any takers, and gave the remaining items away. Because we knew we’d eventually want to move into a home together, we didn’t want to part with couches, bookcases and other things we’d want once we had more space. Rather than get rid of those big-ticket items, we opted to place them in storage. Before exposing them to the unknown elements in a storage facility, we made sure they were insured. Some items in storage can only be insured for a limited time or at a low percentage of their actual value—so we triple-checked our policy and calculated the value of what we had.

Find a middle ground

It was tough to find a common design scheme between my furniture and his, so we decided to blend pieces by color instead. And since our things didn’t go together naturally, we chose a more eclectic look for our place. Even so, it took a few months of gathering throw pillows, blankets, and other odds and ends before everything looked cohesive. Throughout the process, I knew my husband wasn’t thrilled when I added feminine touches to almost every room. But, as a compromise, he was able to keep his den as a total man cave, filled with everything a guy could want. This allowed both of us to feel like we had a say in aspects of the décor, and it set the stage for future collaboration.

Keep clutter to a minimum

Getting rid of our junk was one of the last steps in our moving process, but it was a super important one. Two households means twice the clutter, and I wasn’t about to wade through a sea of old term papers and broken holiday ornaments. A week before I moved in, my husband and I spent several hours sifting through our individual junk drawers and closets. This not only resulted in fewer boxes for me to pack and haul across town, it gave me a great opportunity to organize my files and get my bills, account statements and other important papers in order before the big move. Though you can’t prepare for every bump in the road that may arise, deciding what to keep, store and give away before moving day can help you breathe a little easier. And if all else fails, you can always de-stress with a nap in your significant other’s beanbag chair.

Richelle Mon bonn is a contributing blogger and E-Business Marketing Manager at Allstate Insurance Co.

In the end, we were able to find a home that we loved and could actually pay for—but it took a lot for us to get to this point. If you’re in the market for a home, learn from my firsthand experience and consider these tips to help you along the way:

Strengthen Your Credit Score

You know that you’re more than a few numbers on a page, but your home loan officer doesn’t. So, use those long months of house hunting to your advantage by finding ways to improve your credit score. The higher your score, the lower your down payment and monthly payments may be in the future. Be sure to pull your credit report to ensure you’re not being penalized for unknown or unsettled debts. You should also stop applying for new credit at least one year before you apply for home financing, as these applications can hurt your score. Keep in mind that if your score’s lower than 680, you may have to pay extra fees or a higher down payment.

Consider a Real Estate Broker

There’s no shortage of online home sale websites, but for me, having a realtor was crucial. Our realtor gave us some much-needed perspective—pointing out flaws we didn’t notice and highlighting features we never would have thought considered. In addition to assisting the property search, a realtor can provide information about current market conditions, financing options and negotiating issues that may apply to your situation.

Know the Neighborhood

For us, finding the right fit was all about location. We wanted a safe neighborhood with a good public school system, but we made sure to look into the surrounding environment as well. When you find a great deal, ask whether the home is located somewhere that may require additional insurance, such as a flood plain, or near a noisy junction, such as an airport, hospital or railroad track. If you’re concerned about noise or traffic on a particular street, try visiting the home during different times of the day. It can be helpful to ask people in the neighborhood about pros and cons of the area. You may also want to research neighborhood organizations, which can give you a feel for the level of community engagement.

Set Your Priorities

The only way to find your dream home is to know what you’re looking for! Finding the right property shouldn’t take a miracle, but it may require some pre-planning. First, figure out your priorities: What are you willing to give up? Would you trade fewer bedrooms for a larger kitchen, or a longer commute for a bigger yard? Keep a list of the features you’re looking for, and consider pricing, location and size, as well as amenities like a pool, garden or space for an addition. No matter what you’re searching for, make sure you can afford the perfect place once you find it. Take stock of your current budget to determine your ability to make mortgage and insurance payments and to put money down. Remember that with home ownership, your property taxes may increase and maintenance costs can arise at any time. Also, you may want to get pre-approved for a home loan before you start looking—that way, you’ll be able to make an offer as quickly as possible. As I’ve learned, the road to home ownership isn’t exactly a smooth one, but the bumps along the way are definitely worth it. After all, there’s nothing quite like having a place to call your own.

Richelle Mon bonn is a contributing blogger and E-Business Marketing Manager at Allstate Insurance Co.