Christmas is quickly approaching! From gift giving to party throwing to traveling, the holidays can get expensive. Here are some tips to help make the most of your time and money this holiday season!

Make a list and check it twice – I’m sure many of us have gone grocery shopping without a list and felt the desire to buy all the snacks you see around you. Christmas shopping without a list can be a similar experience. Make a list of all the gifts you need to buy and do your best to stick to it.

Decide on a budget – Set a spending limit per person or draw names so your family and friends buy for one person. Include everything from wrapping paper to postage to mail your Christmas cards in this budget to make sure you’re realistic about the amount of money you need to spend.

Start early – Don’t procrastinate and wait until Christmas Eve to start buying your gifts. Keep your eyes open all year round for items your family and friends would enjoy.

Track your spending – It’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays if you don’t track your spending. Check out some of the free apps available to help track and budget your spending.

Cut back on extras – We all spend a little more than we should during the holidays but we have to make sure we don’t get carried away. Consider going out to eat less this next month or buying one less thing for yourself to save some money to put towards your gifts.

Christmas is not the only time of year you should be making a budget and tracking your spending. Consider making a budget using one of our financial calculators.