Christmas is right around the corner and it’s important that you plan ahead so you don’t face any financial mistakes.

One of the most important things to do during the holidays is to make a budget and stick to it. When you go shopping for Christmas, make sure you don’t spend more than your budget. One good way to do this is to put away however much you want to spend on a person in an envelope. Carry that envelope to the store and nothing else. That forces you to stick to a budget.

In my family we set a budget for how much we want to spend on relatives. We also have a plan set in place where we don’t purchase items for adults, but instead only purchase Christmas gifts for the children. I know several of my friends draw names during the holidays. This also helps cut down Christmas costs.

Another important thing to remember is to start early. I have started Christmas shopping in the early fall. This can help spread out your bills and prevent you from facing large debt during the holiday months.

If you want to do something nice for your neighbors but don’t have a lot of funds, I would suggest hosting a party. Have your neighbors bring cookies and an appetizer and invite them over for a night of fun. One of my family’s favorite parties is game night. We bring out our board games, offer up simple snacks and have lots of fun.

And don’t be afraid to get creative this holiday season. Both of my children have a lot of teachers and we have many others on our Christmas gift list. It can be extremely costly. However, we get creative and make homemade desserts for our neighbors and teachers. This not only cut costs, but helps get my children involved in the gift giving process. There are countless websites that gives you great gift ideas.

If you don’t have the funds to purchase Christmas items, give the gift of time. A great idea for a holiday gift is a coupon book. Make a coupon book on activities you can do to help the gift receiver.

Christmas doesn’t have to be a financial strain on your budget. Planning and creativity can keep your holidays enjoyable and not financially stressful.

Do you have frugal tips? E-mail them to localnews2005@yahoo.com.