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Much like Santa, you spent this holiday season delivering gifts to your family members and friends.
But now that the flurry of tinsel and wrapping paper has settled, it’s time to be your own Santa. Don’t worry, no dropping through a chimney required. Just the gift-giving — and, OK, maybe the cookies, too.
That’s right: Now it’s time to buy a few gifts to give to yourself. Done the right way, treating yourself can be enjoyable and within your budget. Here’s why it’s a good time to look out for No. 1.
YOU CAN GET WHAT YOU WANT
Was your heart set on something that didn’t appear under the tree? Now’s your opportunity to get your hands on exactly what you had in mind. And since the post-Christmas period features deals on a variety of products, you’re likely to find what you want at a discounted price.
The price-tracking app Paribus historically has seen price drops in categories such as home decor, gaming systems, cell phones and clothing in the two weeks after Christmas.
“Sometimes, we’ll see that retailers are trying to get certain products off the shelf as the Christmas season comes to a close,” said Jenna Kaye-Kauderer, head of Paribus.
That’s the case with holiday decorations, wrapping paper and winter clothing, for example.
There’s no need to go crazy and buy everything that’s on sale at the end of December and beginning of January. But if you’re eyeing a new pair of knee-high boots, or another item that’s been discounted, consider spending some of the Christmas money or gift cards you may have received.
IT COULD MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER
Could shopping for yourself — and scoring deals — make you happy during the winter season? It’s possible.
Scott Rick, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, has researched consumer spending habits. He said people experience different levels of distress when spending money and buying gifts.
“Tightwads,” for example, kick themselves for not buying things they actually wanted to buy, he said. “Spendthrifts” are the opposite. They overspend, but still end up unhappy.
Rick said there’s a happy medium between these two. “There’s this middle ground of what we call unconflicted consumers, who have some distress when they spend money ... just enough to keep them sort of in line,” Rick said.
“They don’t completely deprive themselves,” he said. “They don’t go nuts. They are happier, on average, than most tightwads and spendthrifts.”
So forget post-holiday blues. The freedom of buying some gifts for yourself, within reason, could actually be beneficial.
IT CAN BE PART OF A BALANCED BUDGET
Allowing room for self-spending is also part of a healthy budget.
“You don’t want to sacrifice your whole life until retirement just eating ramen noodles or never buying something for yourself,” said Robert P. Finley, a certified financial planner and the principal of Virtue Asset Management in Illinois.
Finley said it’s important to consider your emotional and mental well-being.
“I think it’s more than acceptable to buy yourself presents, especially around the holidays, or even not the holidays, as long as you’re not running up your credit cards to a very high amount and taking on a lot of debt just to try to make yourself feel better,” he said.
As long as you keep your spending within realistic boundaries, you shouldn’t have to feel overly restricted.
The 50/30/20 budget is a helpful guideline. According to this model, you can spend up to 50 percent of your take-home income on needs, 30 percent on wants and 20 percent on savings and debt repayment. Gifts for yourself would fall within the 30 percent portion — as long as you’re not way off in the other categories.
So go ahead and buy that sherpa blanket that wasn’t under the tree. It would look so good on your couch.
—This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.

The Central Catholic Eagles boys basketball team is off to a solid start this season with a 13-5 mark and a No. 2 ranking in the Division IV power rankings.
The Eagles, who have won seven straight games, haven’t lost since December when it fell to rival Morgan City 63-57 at home.
Central Catholic Coach Ree Case said his squad, which returned all of its starters from a year ago, had a good summer and was able to develop some depth.
He said this year’s team started playing the earliest it has in quite some time. The Eagles also have nearly equaled last year’s win total of 16.
While he is happy about where his team is, Case said he also thinks it can improve a lot.
“I’m excited about where I hope we’re going,” he said.
A year ago, Central Catholic finished 16-15 and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Division IV playoffs where it fell to district foe and eventual state champion Lafayette Christian 88-18. Lafayette Christian’s 2018 title was the second of two straight for the squad, which will move up to 2A next year.
With his starting lineup back from a year ago, Case said he set up this year’s schedule to prepare his team to face the district juggernaut by playing teams that are similar to them.
“First thing you got to do is try to win your district,” Case said. “To win your district, you got to beat the best team in your district, who is the two-time defending state champ.”
The Eagles and Knights, who are Division IV’s top-ranked team in the latest Louisiana High School Athletic Association power rankings, will meet Jan. 29 in Lafayette.
With an improved team from a year ago, Case predicted his squad would have a good game against the Knights this season.
The schedule the Eagles have faced this year has featured Dunham, defending Division III state champion and current top-ranked team in Division III; White Castle, Class 1A’s top ranked team and last year’s 1A state champion; and a heavy dose higher-classification teams.
The Eagles’ most recent win was an 80-50 victory against St. John Tuesday. St. John is ranked No. 6 in Division IV.
In addition to Lafayette Christian, Central Catholic still has plenty of challenges ahead on its schedule as it will face Brusly (a Class 3A quarterfinalist a year ago), Patterson, Metairie Park Country Day (a Division III semifinalist a year ago and current No. 2 ranked team in Division III) and Vermilion Catholic to highlight its remaining games.
The Eagles are led this year by seniors Elijah Swan and Brooks Thomas.
Swan earned first-team All-District 7-1A honors and honorable mention Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 1A All-State recognition a year ago. Thomas was a second-team all-district selection. Swan has been a staple for the Eagles in the scoring column, while Thomas has elevated an already successful game even more so this year.
“I think they both realize, Brooks even more that this is their last year,” Case said. “This is their last shot. I talk about it all the time. ‘Every time you do something this year, it’s the last time you’re ever going to do it so work hard.’ They’ve both been committed. They’ve both been in the gym. They’ve both been coming early and staying late, and it shows.”
In addition to Thomas, a guard, and Swan, a forward, other members of the Eagles starting lineup are junior point guard Davidyione Bias, junior forward Taylor Blanchard and freshman center D.J. Lewis.
The Eagles’ bench features eighth grade forward Demondrick Blackburn, freshman guard Tyler Smith, freshman guard Kye Morgel, junior center Michael-Anthony Hill, sophomore guard Brett Morrell, junior forward Ethan Boagni and sophomore forward Bentley Alcina.
“This is the deepest we’ve been in many years,” Case said.
In their game against White Castle this season, Case said Central Catholic had three starters in foul trouble at one point and still were able to extend the lead. It’s something Case said wouldn’t have happened in years past.
“I think our bench is getting better. … Our bench has won some games for us this year,” he said.