Illustration: Katy Dockrill
1. The number one thing is, you?ve gotta make a budget?a detailed budget based on what you?ve spent in previous years and where you?d like to make changes. Break it down into categories for gifts, groceries, entertaining, travel and incidentals (like babysitters). There are some great budgeting apps that can help, says Anne Arbour, a financial educator with Credit Counselling Society. ?The ones I hear the best feedback about include Mint, Spendee, Goodbudget Budget Planner: Money & Expense Tracker, Mvelopes Budget App and Monefy?Money Manager. They?re each customizable so you can include a Holiday Spending category.?
2. Prep some freezer meals now. December is a whirlwind, and when you just can?t bear the thought of cooking after a long day of running around, takeout is really appealing. But man, does it blow the budget. Consider freezer meals a smart investment. 3. Cut down on unnecessary spending for the weeks leading up to the holiday shopping spree. Do you really need that grande PSL"
4. Buy big-ticket gifts on bonus-point days, and then use all those points to purchase less expensive items like stocking stuffers and teacher and hostess gifts.
5. With almost zero effort, you can earn back part of what you spend through rebate apps like Ebates, Reebee, CartSmart, Zweet, Snap by Groupon and Checkout 51. ?Retailers are tracking you anyway; you might as well get paid for it,? says Arbour.
6. Have your kids make gifts for the grandpare...