If you’re like me, you usually don’t officially start holiday shopping until… well, until after you should, let’s say. I’ve been making a list in my head for about two months now, but I’m only just starting the legwork of figuring out my holiday budget. Here’s how I manage to keep the last few months of the year as stress-free as possible.

Make a List; Check It Three Times

Begin your holiday shopping by listing all your expenses. The list should include:

• Gifts: People’s names and the amount of money you can realistically spend on them.
• Travel: Visiting friends, family and outlet malls all cost money. So does parking at some shopping destinations.
• Food & drink: You’ll probably be expected to attend a few holiday parties, so determine how much you can afford in this category so you know when to say no.
• Postage: If you send holiday cards or plan to ship gifts to faraway loved ones, remember to factor in the cost of stamps.
• Decorations and wrapping: My grandmother notoriously recycled wrapping paper, which I thought was incredibly strange until the first time I had to buy something that would only be thrown away.
• Charitable donations: This is the time of year that you’ll be asked to fork over cash to good causes, so it may be smart to decide early who gets your money and how much they’ll receive.

And remember that the holiday season generally includes a few unforeseen expenses, like a group gift for your boss or replacement Christmas lights. The important thing to remember is to set a limit and stick to it. This may mean you have to skip a few events, but you’ll thank yourself when you get your credit card bills in January.

Plan to Save (And Haggle!)

Once you know your budget, look for places you can trim costs.

• Bake & shop sales: Many grocery stores have sales on holiday-type baking items around this time of year. If you’re kitchen-savvy, fudge, cookies and cupcakes can make great (and economical) gifts.
• Plan ahead: This can save you mega money on postal costs, especially if you plan to shop online or ship gifts. Don’t pay for overnight rates when you don’t have to!
• Recycle: My parents often wrapped gifts for us in color comics. We loved it, and so will any environmentalist on your list.
• Negotiate: Now is a great time to try to get independent retailers to lower prices. Shop when the store’s not too busy and ask for a discount for buying multiple items, paying in cash, buying slightly damaged goods, or based on a competitor’s coupon.
• Research: Before you head out the door (or to the online checkout), make sure you’ve done some digging to find out what prices you can expect to pay.

Additional Resources

Tips for Negotiation (adorable PDF)
Center for the New American Dream’s “Simplify the Holidays”

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