A Guilt-Free Guide to Holiday Spending

(12 Photos)

Sara Eckel on Dec 1, 2009 at 6:01PM

Single View
View All

1 of 12

Budget for All Your Holiday Expenses

If the scent of pine trees and gingerbread fills you with the urge to splurge, then check out these regret-free shopping strategies and avoid that January debt hangover.

It's not enough to think about what you want to spend on toys and gifts. You also have to factor in all the stuff that doesn't necessarily go under the tree, like decorations, food, party clothes and airline tickets. After you've set your spending limits, including a per-person maximum, take your budget with you as you shop. It will provide a much-needed reality check when you see that gorgeous designer bathrobe that's only $25 more than you were planning to spend.