Ohio Launches Free Holiday Budgeting Guide
The state Division of Financial Institutions has released a free guide with spending tips, a budgeting template and a readiness quiz.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Budgeting
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Ohio's Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions launched its annual Holiday Budgeting Guide, available free at com.ohio.gov/BudgetGuide. The guide offers tips on safe spending, which bills to pay off first, and avoiding scams.
Why it matters
Ohioans are estimated to have spent $32 billion last holiday season, up 3.1% from 2024, and the guide is intended to help residents manage spending and stay financially confident. Deloitte projects holiday retail sales could rise about 4% this season.
The Ohio Council of Retail Merchants estimated Ohioans spent $32 billion last holiday season, a 3.1% rise from 2024, while U.S. retail sales were up 2.7% year-over-year in December 2025. The release does not address how these spending increases affect household debt.
The players
Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions
The Ohio state agency that oversees financial institutions and published the Holiday Budgeting Guide for residents.
Deloitte
A multinational professional services firm that publishes annual holiday retail sales projections for the United States.
The details
The guide includes a dynamic budgeting template and a one-minute interactive readiness quiz, which can be taken at surveymonkey.com/r/HBG2026. It also links to assistance programs for food insecurity, utility bills and other financial challenges, and suggests paying with credit cards for added fraud protections or using cash or a debit card to keep spending in check.
Timeline
Last holiday season: Ohioans were estimated to spend $32 billion.
December 2025: U.S. retail sales were up 2.7% year-over-year.
November 2026 to January 2027: Deloitte projects holiday retail sales period, at least $1.7 trillion.
Budget Context
Deloitte's holiday forecast projects retail sales of at least $1.7 trillion from November 2026 to January 2027, roughly a 4% increase from last year. Ohio's guide arrives as that projected spending growth follows a 3.1% rise in state holiday spending.
The free guide's budgeting template and readiness quiz give Ohio households a concrete way to plan holiday spending before purchases begin. Its links to assistance programs for food, utilities and other challenges offer help if holiday costs strain a monthly budget.
The takeaway
Setting a holiday spending limit before shopping starts and choosing a payment method that fits that limit can help households avoid post-holiday debt. Paying bills first and checking for scams before purchasing are practical steps the guide recommends.
Further reading
For more on managing seasonal costs, explore Budgeting resources.
More information
Download the free Ohio state holiday budgeting guide from the Division of Financial Institutions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Delaware Gazette.
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