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You’d probably think I was crazy if I said it’s wise to start saving and shopping now for the holiday season.  Call me nuts, say I’m wild, but nothing will drive you more insane than your bills after December has passed by.  Maybe screaming babies on a cross-country flight would be worse, but equally as terrible, is seeing your savings deplete knowing you could have been more frugal.  Besides, won’t it be nice to not have to spend the last-minute days shopping?  Instead, you can enjoy eggnog, latkes, or Chevy Chase (a.k.a Clark W. Griswold) movies to your heart’s content while basking in your own glow of thriftiness.  Check out these tips:

Make A Budget and List Now

And then after you’ve made your list, check it twice.  Santa Claus puns aside, it’s smart to make budgets and lists 365 days of the year, so why not take the time to do it for the season that sucks down your dough like a vampire?  A list is helpful because it will force you to be more thoughtful about the gifts you’re purchasing and ultimately ease your shopping stress.  Write everyone down and include a corresponding budget to avoid frivolous overspending.  Real Simple Magazine has a great worksheet for all of your holiday gifting that you may want to check out.

Set Aside Some Money Keeping Additional Costs In Mind

After you’ve made your list and budget, determine how much money you’ll need to have saved up by the time December hits.  And doesn’t everything seem to get a tad bit pricey during the extra festive and freezing months?  Take into consideration putting in additional funds for your amped up heating and electricity bills, décor, travel, entertaining, as well as timely needs like gift-wrapping supplies.  If you don’t use every last penny you allotted for, why not donate the leftover cash to charities?  It is, after all, the season of giving.

Another thought on savings?  Intangibles make great gifts if it’s hard to fathom dishing out the dough for every last person on your list.  How about offering to walk your neighbor’s dog, babysit for your niece or nephew, or make secret-recipe baked goods for a co-worker?  My mom and I slave over Buckeyes every holiday season (no sarcasm, they really require quite a lot of time to make) and they are much appreciated by those who receive them, understanding the effort and love folded into the peanut-buttery goodness.

Avoid Using Your Credit Card

I must reiterate this point again, as I have in my previously posted frugal living articles: it’s proven that consumers spend 30 percent more when using a credit or debit card versus paying with cash.  Besides, haven’t you heard through the grapevine that banks are considering implicating monthly fees for using debit cards?  I’ve never heard of any hidden fees associated with cold hard cash.

It might seem like a great idea at the time to go buck wild at the mall (or my beloved Target), swipe your plastic, and then vow to pay off your interest and bills come January.  Why not just be rid of stress as you hit the store by paying with some green?  It will be wonderful knowing you won’t have debt to settle following the holiday season.  Here’s an idea if you’re nervous sporting a serious wad of cash: keep your budgeted amount in a safe place at home, designate envelopes for certain amounts (by gift receiver or store), and grab it as you go.

Start Shopping Early

Forget Black Friday and Cyber Monday!  All those crazies out shopping in the middle of the night like ravenous zombies give me a headache.   In my world, sleep trumps late night shopping, which I realize is a shocking statement coming from me.  It’s likely that the lines at stores are miles long because there are those select diehards who purchase every single gift they plan to buy on Black Friday.  I’m also willing to bet those extremists are spending a lot more to qualify for coupons or deals.  Shop early and tackle little chunks at a time, let’s not break the bank all in one outing.

On your next shopping excursion, check out the clearance and marked-down items from this season.  Buying for someone in a warm climate?  Bathing suits and beach gear are practically on closeout right now.  How about newlyweds or a recent homebuyer?  Patio furniture and outdoor decorations are surely wearing sale stickers (for those of us who live in places where snow falls half of the year).  Have a golf, fishing, or tennis nut on your list?  Equipment for these sports (or essentially any other activity that’s challenging to do once the temperatures plummet) usually receives a price drop once the season comes to an end.  Professional sports team memorabilia and gear is a great choice as well, once off-season hits.

Extreme Couponing and Deals

I’ve recently discovered the beauty of online shopping: sweet discounts, quick shipping, and best of all, I can browse my favorite stores in my pajamas!  Hunting for deals is a great approach, but I’m not saying you should dedicate your entire life to bargain hunting, organizing mind-boggling amounts of coupons into plastic-protected binders, and hoarding 500 rolls of paper towel.  Leave that to those committed people on TLC’s show that look like they’re stockpiling enough goods for an apocalypse, but bless their money saving antics.

As far as websites go, I’m a fan of Amazon.com.  I’ve saved a lot on items that hardly ever go on sale (if you’re into makeup and skin-care products like me) and come across a lot of gift-worthy loot, like tons of stuff for fans of MLB, NHL, and NFL teams.  Another website to check out is Overstock.com, where you can load up on every type of merchandise available under the sun (many items come in value sets, like you’d see at your local Sam’s Club or Costco).  And the best part is that shipping is always $2.95!  Rejoice!

For those who really thrive on clipping coupons, check out these digital versions: CouponCabin.com, CouponWinner.com, and AlexsCoupons.com (a great site in which a portion of proceeds goes toward helping childhood cancer).  If you’re more into those one-size-fits-all gifts, head over to PlasticJungle.com or GiftCardGranny.com to find deals buying, selling, or trading gift cards.  The ultimate savings stickler should browse Pronto.com to read up on product price comparisons, since it’s easy to be blinded by bargains.  Don’t always spend more because you’re under the impression that you’ll save more.

You know what else I’m thinking I might want to start saving for, besides money for gift giving?  Calories.  I feel like I’m putting on a few pounds just daydreaming about the insane amounts of pierogi, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, hot buttered rolls, Buckeyes, and so on and so forth that I will be devouring come December.  Have any tactics you use around the holidays to save money?  Share them with us!  Ready, set, shop – SAVE!

Stephanie Koske is a writer for Quicken Loans, a company whose clients believe it’s Engineered to Amaze.  Interested in being Amazed by us? Read trusted reviews at our review site and at Epinions.

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