Planning your Ramadan spending

Ramadan 1447 AH is expected to begin around 18 February 2026, depending on moon sighting. For many families it is the most meaningful month of the year, and also one of the most expensive. Gatherings with relatives, charity, new clothes and gifts for Eid al-Fitr all arrive within a few weeks. A little planning before the month starts lets you enjoy it fully and begin Shawwal without worry.

Start with a Ramadan budget

Look back at what you spent last Ramadan. Your card statements and the spending insights in the app make this easy. Most households find their costs cluster into a handful of categories.

• Groceries and household shopping for Iftar and Suhoor gatherings
• Zakat, sadaqah and other charitable giving
• Eid clothes, gifts and Eidiya for children
• Family visits, travel and hosting guests
• Utility bills, which often rise with longer evenings at home

Give each category a monthly amount, then add ten percent as a buffer. Writing the plan down, even in a simple note, makes it far more likely you will follow it.

Save a little each month beforehand

The easiest Ramadan budget is one that is already funded. If you open a savings goal a few months before the month starts and move a fixed amount on payday, the money is ready when you need it. Our savings goals feature in the app lets you name the goal, choose a date and turn on round-ups from card payments.

Shop with a list, and shop fewer times

Large weekly shops with a list usually cost less than many small trips. Plan meals for gatherings in advance, buy staples in bulk where it makes sense and compare prices on the items you buy most. Paying with a card that gives cashback on groceries returns part of what you spend.

Plan your giving

Charity is at the heart of the month. Deciding in advance how much you will give, and to whom, helps you give generously and consistently. Standing orders to registered charities, or the round-up giving feature in the app, spread your giving across the month.

Think carefully about Eid purchases

Eid shopping often happens in the last busy days of Ramadan. If you plan to spread the cost of larger purchases, use a transparent instalment plan and check the total you will pay. Our Tayseer Islamic Card offers a Sharia-compliant option with a fixed fee and no interest.

• Buy children's Eid clothes early, before prices and crowds rise
• Agree a gift budget with family members
• Prepare Eidiya in advance so you are not withdrawing cash at the last minute

Review after Eid

When Eid al-Fitr has passed, spend ten minutes comparing what you planned with what you actually spent. Note what went well and what surprised you. That short review makes next year's plan even easier.

Ramadan Kareem from everyone at Lanternvale Bank. Lanternvale Bank is fictional and this article is written for software testing.