• Don’t take credit cards when you go shopping for holiday items.• Make a list and check it twice, three times and more. Reconcile your holiday spending on a weekly basis.
• Spend as you go. Don’t spend December’s “extra” paycheck before you have it.
• Use envelopes to help you budget your gift giving. Create an envelope for each gift recipient. Put their name on the outside and the money you have to spend on that person on the inside.
• Don’t buy anything for yourself when you shop for others this holiday season.
• Look for combo opportunities where you can combine coupons with clearance.
• Buy gifts at 75 percent off after the holidays—for next year.
• Use froogle.com (powered by Google) to compare prices quickly across online and offline retailers.
• Avoid the store card discount trap: do not sign up for a new credit card in exchange for 10–20 percent off your purchase.
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