'Tis the season for holiday shopping.

The holiday season brings so much to our lives. Christmas lights and decorations take over just about every business. Holiday music fills every speaker around us. And there's nothing better than grabbing a hot peppermint mocha and browsing the stores for the perfect gifts.

Well, until you see the total at the register.

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Oh sure, the idea of your sweet child opening that present or your Aunt Sally unwrapping that gift with a big smile is at the forefront of your mind. Yet, at the back of your mind, you can already see the beads of sweat running down your forehead when you see that credit card bill come January.

This is where budgeting comes in.

And let's face it, everyone's budget is different. Some don't have the means to go crazy, while others adopt a "let go and let God' policy. I'm not saying you shouldn't be generous, nor am I saying you should be stingy. I'm just saying that there are other ways you can show love this Christmas that don't involve a gift under the tree.

But that's another post for another time.

Back to the budget.

Recently, WalletHub compiled a list of the "Holiday Budgets by City." To determine how much each of the cities listed might be spending this year, they looked at income, savings each month, expenses each month, population, age, and more.

It looks like Highlands Ranch, Colorado has the biggest budget in our state and 39th overall.

Their Santa-sized budget on average comes to about $1,904. That's reasonable compared to the biggest budget in the nation which belongs to Flower Mound, Texas at $3,427. In fact, Texas cities accounted for three out of the top five budgets.

Of course, they didn't look at every single city in the nation, but the smallest holiday budget this year belongs to Miami, Florida at $115. Now that's more my style. Yes, I'm cheap... like Scrooge.

Light Up the Grand Valley 2020 Entrants: All the Light Up the Grand Valley Entries for 2020

During the 2020 holiday season, we asked our audience to show us their Christmas decorations. We received some great photos from the area's best-decorated houses.

The first photo in the gallery was our 2020 winner, who received $500. We're running the contest again this year, so stay tuned for more details.

Grand Junction Christmas Light Displays of the 1940s

These decorations don't compare to the magnificent blue light display you'll see in the neighborhood in the northwest part of town. It was a different time. Even at that, there's something heartwarming about these 1948 decorations.

These are the best of the best of 1948. I regret I don't know which house placed first, second, etc. In the end, it doesn't matter. They're all great. Take a look at the gallery. Who knows? You might see a house you recognize. For that matter, you might see someone you recognize.

The 15 Snowiest Colorado Towns to Visit for a White Christmas

Looking for a White Christmas in Colorado? Here are the top 15 cities that see the most snowfall each December.

What Are the Chances for a White Christmas in Grand Junction Colorado?

Scroll through the gallery to see what our odds are in Grand Junction for snowfall on Christmas Day.

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