Start saving now for the holidays

I was doing some shopping this morning, and noticed that Christmas decorations are already on the shelves.

I always let the holidays sneak up on me every year, and that can really put a dent on the ‘ol wallet.

Actually, you should probably start saving for the holidays right after they have ended, but it’s never too late.

Here are some tips to make your holidays less painful on the wallet this year:

1. Set your budget and your gift list now.  This should be a pretty easy exercise, just look at last years spending to see who you bought for and how much.
2. Start saving now.  Use money market accounts or short term CDs so you’ll earn a little bit of interest on this money until you need it.
3. Start shopping now.  Take advantage of current sales and prices.  Waiting ’til the last minute could mean higher prices.
4. Shop on the internet.  But… watch the shipping charges. You may want to shop on the internet for the best price, but pick the item up in the store to avoid paying shipping charges.
5. If you’re traveling over the holidays, book your travel now to get lower rates.
6. Have a garage sale, or sell old un-used items on eBay to generate some additional cash.

The best tip is to just plan.  When the decorations start showing up in stores, start making your list, setting your budget and saving for the holidays.  This will save you time and money when the holidays actually get here, and should make them much less stressful!