I don’t know about you but I definitely spent a lot more money this year from all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals this past week. Not only did I spend a lot of money over that weekend but even the weeks leading up to Black Friday–there were a ton of online sales that began before actual Black Friday! Nowadays, the sales are not limited to just Black Friday or Cyber Monday but the sales can go on for days or even weeks. Personally, I did all my Black Friday shopping online. I haven’t shopped in-person on Black Friday for many years now. Mainly due to the fact that I don’t like to deal with large crowds but I also believe that many of the deals are better online anyhow. As I go through my credit card statement, my first reaction is okay, it’s only the beginning of December and it is time to scale it back now! At the same time, we are moving onto the abundant holiday season where it is inevitable that more money is to be spent on gifts for the people I care about most along with other holiday expenses. So what is my advice on how to save some money this holiday season?

Go Through Your Previous Purchases and Return What Is Unnecessary – It is so easy to get cart happy and add lots of items simply due to how low the prices are. However, realistically, many of the items are impulse buys and not necessarily things that you need. Many retailers have a great return policy at this time where you have as much time as after the holidays to bring back any returns. Don’t be afraid to return any items that you actually don’t need at the moment.

Make a List and a Budget (and Actually Stick to It) – It is always a good plan to plan ahead when you are spending money over the holiday season. Start off with a list of people who you want to shop for along with a tentative budget that you are working with. This way, you are making a conscious effort on establishing not only who you want to spend your money on but also how much you are looking to spend. Also keep in mind when it comes to gift giving, sometimes handmade or inexpensive gifts with a lot of thought are just as valuable as monetary gifts so there is no need to feel obligated to spend a lot of money in order to please all the people on your gift giving list.

Pick Up a Holiday Side Hustle – The holiday season is a great time to find an extra source of income and to find a part-time job to work some extra holiday hours. Many retailers could always use the extra holiday help and if you find a job as a waiter or waitress, you will most likely make higher tips as people tend to be more generous during the holidays. This might also be also a good time to pick up a holiday craft and find craft fairs to sell your goods. If you have the extra time, it does not hurt to find extra work to keep up with all the costs that naturally come this time of year.