by Danielle Tomaka

It’s often said that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but it is also the most expensive. Christmas shopping can be time consuming and can get costly. If you’re like me and get too generous with purchasing more gifts than you actually need, there are several precautions you can take to help budget your finances. Follow these 5 easy steps to make a budget plan:

1. Make a list. Make a list of people you need to get gifts for.
2. Set a spending limit. Find out how much money you have to work with. Divide it however you feel necessary.
3. Make a shopping list. Going off of your list and spending limit, write down what you want to get for each person, within that limit of course. If you can, buy a combined gift. It’s much cheaper to buy one gift for your parents than two separate gifts.
4. Do your research. Now that you have a shopping list made, look online to see where they might have that product on sale or where you can find it the cheapest. Many stores price match as well.
5. Keep your receipts. After purchasing your gifts, make sure that you keep your receipts and make sure that you stuck to budget plan. You never know if you have to return something for any reason.

Following these 5 steps will ensure you to have a successful Christmas shopping experience. Saving money is hard for anyone, especially college students who are on a tight budget. Don’t forget, Christmas is a time to spread peace, love, and joy. It is not about presents, though we love to give this time of year. Just remember to shop smart and enjoy your time doing it!