Enjoy your happiest holidays

It’s ironic, but the most carefree, spontaneous holiday celebrations are often those that start with careful planning. To get more joy out of the season, get started now with these seven smart tips for your happiest holidays – without the New Year’s budget hangover.

1. Start early
2. Make your list – and check your budget twice
3. Know the difference between sales and savings
4. Know what to buy AFTER the holidays
5. Avoid sprees
6. Forget the Joneses
7. Share teachable moments

1. Start early

We all know someone who has their holiday shopping done by mid-September every year. You don’t need to go that far, but there are good reasons not to wait until the last minute. For starters, waiting adds a lot of stress to what is often a hectic time of year anyway. When you start earlier, you can skip the drama.

But there are other reasons too. You’ll have time to plan so you know what you can spend and when you’re overdoing it. You’ll have more good gift options to choose from, so you don’t have to snatch something up just because it’s there. And if you have something specific in mind, shopping early reduces the risk of finding that it’s all sold out.

2. Make your list (and check it twice!)

Some of our best everyday money tips become even more important during the holidays. It starts with the basics:

• Have a plan
• Have a budget

Make a list of everyone you’ll give to, and put a dollar figure next to their name. If you add it all up and your total is more than you can afford, go back and revise! It would be nice to spend a fortune on those closest to you, but it’s not realistic. And as for those not quite so close, if your list has more than five people outside your immediate family, start cutting. You can make then a batch of cookies instead, which is also a fun thing to do with kids.

And remember – gifts aren’t the only thing you’ll be spending on. Think about your celebration. Are you hosting? If so, what will the meal cost? Maybe you’re traveling to visit relatives. Remember to include the cost of gas, food, and lodging when setting your budget.

3. Know the difference between sales and saving

Everyone loves to get a good deal, but don’t let all the holiday sales get the better of you. Stick to your plan. When you buy something for $200 because it’s “HALF OFF TODAY ONLY,” you’re not saving at all – you’re going $100 over budget! But if you have a special gift in mind, you’ve budgeted for it, and you shop around and find it at a discount? Now that’s saving.

4. Know what to buy AFTER the holidays

The holidays promise so many “best price of the season” opportunities that it’s easy to feel you’re missing out if you don’t jump at Black Friday or Cyber Monday offers. But the truth is, many of the season’s best deals don’t come until after the season ends.

In fact, some families make the after-sales a part of their holiday tradition. It’s a great strategy for bargain hunters, and the stores are often less crowded. But even if you don’t want to go all-in on the post-holiday shopping strategy, you should know that there are certain items – including some big-ticket items – that are almost always available at deep discounts later on.

The website Investopedia has some great advice on which items you might want to wait on. Keep them in mind when you’re doing your pre-holiday budget planning.

5. Avoid sprees

It’s tempting to keep up the momentum when you’re out crossing lots of items off your shopping list, but it also makes it more likely that you’ll overdo it. Take a break. Look back at everything you just bought, and look over your receipts. Are you still on track? Do you need to go home and do a little recalculating? Getting your shopping done well feels good much longer than getting it done fast.

6. Forget the Joneses

This is good advice every day of the year, but it matters even more during the holidays. Too often, we compare ourselves with people we know or the things we see on TV or in social media. Bad idea! Focus on having a wonderful time with your loved ones, not what how others are celebrating with their loved ones. You may not match their decorations or experience the excitement of a new car with a giant bow on it, but you won’t have their credit card hangover in the New Year, either.

7. Share teachable moments

Nothing you can buy your kids for the holidays will last as long or be worth as much in the long run as the gift of good money habits. Let them see how you plan, and what kinds of choices you make to stay on budget. Show them that the best holiday doesn’t mean spending the most money. And remember to let them help you bake all those cookies!