Christmas comes but once a year. It means fun, gifts—and bills! But you can have a bill-free Christmas if you save for it systematically.

This was how Wells Fargo marketed its "Christmas Club" in the early 1960s.

I came across a few examples in the Archives of how Wells Fargo promoted savings accounts to assist with holiday spending. The idea was simple: Make weekly deposits to your Christmas Club Account, and toward the end of the year you receive a check for the amount saved—plus regular interest. You planned ahead for what you could afford and what you would spend.

How sensible! I think this worked rather well until credit cards became prevalent and allowed you to buy now and pay later (for which I am guilty).

I realize that growing up, I benefited from a solid holiday savings plan. My mother, a single parent with two children, regularly contributed to her Wells Fargo Christmas Club Account every month in order to pay for bills and Christmas gifts. Today, she recalled for me how "wonderful" it was to get that check at the end of the year. I'm sure it is how I was able to receive my most memorable Christmas gift—a Barbie Townhouse®.

Wells Fargo no longer offers a Christmas Club Account per se but does provide alternative savings plans to meet your financial goals, whatever they may be.

As for me, I plan on spending more on bills than presents or savings. Merry Christmas, heating bill!