Clearly, I like to write about saving money during the holiday season – and with good reason. After all, the holidays are loaded with financial temptations and what seem like financial obligations, and having strategies in place to minimize spending is essential to sticking to a budget once Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Your Finances on Track This Holiday Season

So, extracted from various places around the web, here are some top tips for sticking to your best budgetary intentions during the holiday season.

• Just say no to credit. It may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s all too easy to fall into the buy-now-pay-later trap during the holidays. And trust me, there are very few gifts so perfect that they’re worth paying for long into next year (and beyond). So spend some time now to figure out what you can afford to spend and stick to cash on your holiday excursions.
• Think outside the gift box. So how can you limit your spending without coming off like a Grinch? Re-think your present-giving strategy, suggests a recent post from WalletPop.com. Instead of buying stuff for everyone, consider offering your time (to babysit, clean, or share with whatever skills you have). Most super-busy people in your life will appreciate the spirit and help.
• Try a new strategy with your family. Rather than having every adult in your family exchange gifts, suggest a secret-Santa style gift system – or better yet, a truce on gifts. Alternately, you could all contribute to a nice night out together – the goal is to spend money only if you truly want to (that is, if doing so can lead to some meaningful development of your relationships).
• Proceed as planned with charities. In the next few weeks, charities will likely start peppering you with requests for donations, and there will be no shortage of worthy causes to support. In order to help the world and keep your budget on track, map out a plan for how much money you plan to donate (and to which groups) and stick to it as the solicitations pour in.
• Resist the holiday sale hype. While sales like those on Black Friday can be exciting, most retail insiders admit that Black Friday prices are not necessarily the lowest of the year. Careful, well-researched shopping (whether online or in stores) can yield bargains in the same league as those offered on major shopping days.
• Focus on experiences. While your kids or coworkers may not remember in five years any of the stuff they receive for the holidays, they’ll have a hard time forgetting memorable experiences you helped them have (think holiday walks to look at neighborhood lights, a cozy cup of coffee at a local bakery, time spent making ornaments, etc.)

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