How to Get Ready for Holiday Shopping Right Now

The news was seen as a good sign for the economy last year; shoppers spent more money than they had since the recession. Excellent, right? Wrong. The fine print of the story mentioned that the bulk of purchases were put on credit cards, meaning all we did was rack up more bills.

How do we shop smart without getting up to our eyeballs in debt? Here are a couple of tips.

1. Make your budget and stick to it. When vacation club bank accounts existed, it was easy.  4 in 10 Americans do not set a budget. Those people end up feeling the pain for the rest of the year.

2. Research sales and start shopping...now! Surprisingly, now is the time when you will get the best deals. Compare prices. It may be a lost art, but you will find more in your bank account in the end of the season.

3. Don't wait until Black Friday or the last minute. You are bound to spend more than your budget in both cases because you will feel pressured into snap decisions. Take your time.

4. Don't spend what you can't afford. If your credit spending is high already, rethink your strategy and know your limits. Everyone has a lean Christmas now and then.

5. Let your head do the decision making. Don't shop emotionally. Again, you are bound to spend more. Think logically.

6. Re-gift. I said it and I mean it! Look around, you know you can get away with re-gifting.

Basically, in order to get out of this with your head above water, you have to have a solid plan. The better prepared you are, the more you'll be able to afford your fuel this winter (if you get my drift).