The Holiday Season is a favorite time of year for many, but from a financial perspective it is certainly stressful. We’ve gathered some tips and tricks to help you navigate this season without breaking the bank.

Making a List and Checking it Twice

To help control spending, and to keep track of all your gifts, write down or type out your Christmas list. Some popular apps are ShopSavvy, Elfster, and Christmas Gift List Tracker. ShopSavvy compares deals and lets you compare online vs retail shopping and lets you track specific items. Elfster and Christmas List Tracker help you keep track of what gifts you buy for people as well as manage gift exchanges. These will help you know exactly how much you are spending and make it significantly harder to forget someone.

Think about your overall budget for holiday gifting. Write this number at the top of your page. Then list everyone that you will be buying gifts for. Be sure to start with the people closest to you. From there, work your way down to coworkers, neighbors, or even book club members! Once you’re done with the list, write down an approximate price range that you are willing to spend on each person. This will help you know how much extra you have to spend on other people in your life, as well as making sure you don’t over-gift.

Is there something that you have been gifted recently that you can re-gift to anyone on your list? Some people don’t like the idea of re-gifting, but it can be economical if the gift is just right for someone on your list. 

Shop Strategically In-Store

While online shopping offers convenience, don’t underestimate the value of in-store shopping—especially in the final weeks before the holidays. Many stores offer promotions, clearance racks, or bundled gift sets that may only be found in stores. If you shop online, you can also more easily check for quality issues. This could save you time and money in the event you discover a problem at the last minute and are scrambling to find and ship a different gift.

When you are heading out to shop, try to plan a route so you can hit multiple stores in one outing. That way you will be saving money on gas, and on time! Remember to bring any gift cards that you have; it’s better to use them than to lose them!

Online Shopping

Comparing prices across different websites is one of the most effective ways to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are widely known as some of the best times to shop for gifts, but the holiday deals don’t stop there. There are many seasonal discounts to watch for, as retailers often want to clear out products before the season ends. Several websites are designed to track and compile deals all in one place—BlackFriday.com; DealNews, and Slickdeals are all great examples. You can also find a lot of blogs and social content highlighting the best deals of the season, so keep an eye out for those.

Save on Shipping

Many retailers offer free shipping on purchases over a certain amount, like Target and Walmart. You could save on shipping if you’re able to buy more from one retailer—or look at sellers that offer free shipping on ALL purchases. Best Buy and Home Depot have also offered free shipping for Black Friday in the past.

Try to get your shopping done early! If you can get your holiday shopping out of the way, the less stress you will have, and the less risk you have of paying for expedited shipping.

Rewards Points

If possible, you can also try to buy from places that have rewards programs. If you are already a rewards member, you may receive discounts or even free products. You can also rack up points to save money on future purchases.

Holiday shopping doesn’t have to drain your wallet or your energy. With a bit of planning, strategic shopping, and smart use of rewards and discounts, you can find thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list without going over budget. Come up with a plan that works for you and stick to it! Stay as organized as you can and make sure to take advantage of the different offers available online and in-store.

Bottom line—the holidays are about bringing family and friends together, and not about the price of the gifts. It’s natural to want to give the best gift possible to everyone you care about, but you can still do it in a way that doesn’t break the bank.