You don’t have to be a Scrooge to give your wallet a reason to be grateful.

Website design By BotEap.comWhile the holiday season can be very exciting and magical for children, adults face expenses in the last two months of the year that can put a huge strain on family finances. Whether it’s travel expenses, gifts, food, or decorations, it’s easy to take your wallet and credit cards for granted.

Website design By BotEap.comSet a vacation budget. Sit back and calculate your vacation expenses. Make a list of all your anticipated expenses so you’re prepared to spend wisely and avoid a post-holiday hangover. If you have a savings account to cover your vacation expenses, then you’re good to go. But, if you need to tap into your savings or, worse yet, you’re going to be in debt, then you need to find some ways to reduce your vacation expenses.

Website design By BotEap.comConsider making a few changes this year that will take the stress off your budget and your wallet will thank you when the holidays are over.

Website design By BotEap.comUse credit card rewards: If you have a credit card that offers rewards points, try redeeming your points to cover the cost of some of your gifts.

Website design By BotEap.comdraw names: Limit the number of people you are shopping for this year, as well as the amount you are spending on each gift. Your friends or family may appreciate this approach to gift shopping.

Website design By BotEap.combuy bargains– Check online sites like Ben’s Bargains, DealNews, DealPlus, Slickdeals, GottaDeal.com, DealCatcher, or FatWallet to find the best holiday deals. Also, if you do a lot of shopping online, consider signing up for Amazon Prime to save money on shipping. Amazon Prime is an annual cost with FREE unlimited 2-day shipping and the ability to borrow books from the Kindle Owners Lending Library. Remember that books are FREE software for the brain!

Website design By BotEap.comgive homemade things: You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to be creative and crafty. Homemade gifts can be really meaningful. The time you spend making a gift shows the recipient how much you care and takes the stress off your holiday budget.

Website design By BotEap.combuy early: Buying gifts before the holiday rush is a perfect way to avoid reckless spending. Buying early also makes those last-minute purchases easy no matter the price.

Website design By BotEap.comUse natural decorations instead of store-bought items: Gather fallen leaves, pine cones, tree branches, or other natural objects to use for centerpieces and mantel decorations.

Website design By BotEap.comGet creative with your packaging: Clever do-it-yourself ideas are sure to impress everyone on your Christmas gift list without breaking the bank. Kraft paper or cheap brown paper can be used. Create a blank canvas perfect for stenciled holiday designs. Place some fresh greenery under the bow for a Christmassy scent. Did you know that a map could be a trendy decoration theme? To make the packaging more personal, use a map that shows the recipient’s place of birth or favorite travel destination. Going green can also be wallet-friendly. Wrap small gifts in wrapping paper and cover them with pieces of twine or greenery from your own backyard.

Website design By BotEap.comMake your Christmas dinner memorable: Instead of preparing and paying for the entire holiday meal, why not host a potluck? This will allow your guests to show off their cooking skills and even share recipes with all of your guests.

Website design By BotEap.comAre you ready to kick off the holiday shopping season? If you take advantage of some of these tips, it will hopefully relieve some stress and help you avoid overspending while keeping your budget intact. Your wallet will thank you.