Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission: Make a list and set a budget. List the people you plan to buy gifts for, the type of gifts you plan to buy, and how much you plan to spend. Include the cost of cash gifts, holiday travel, extra food, wrappings, decorations, greeting cards, and postage. If it relates to the holiday season and it costs money, add it to your budget.
Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission: Keep an eye on your wallet. Don t flash cash. Keep an eye on your credit or debit card during transactions, and get them back as quickly as possible. If your cards are lost or stolen, report the loss or theft immediately to the card issuers.
Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission: Shop around. A sale price isn t always the best price. Some merchants may offer a sale price on the item you want for a limited time; other merchants may offer items at a discount everyday.