The holidays are rapidly approaching and stores have already begun preparing for the year’s largest shopping season. Post-holiday debt seems to be a widely accepted part of the season, and many consumers are left ringing in the New Year reeling from the aftermath.

This year, I am determined not to fall into this trap. By analyzing last year’s average consumer spending and taking a look at my own personal finances, I am committed to sticking to a reasonable budget. With all the holiday festivities and pretty shiny things in the windows, it’s easy to get carried away. For me, knowing what my fellow consumer’s spending habits are is the best way to keep things in perspective.

According to the National Retail Federation, in 2010 the average American spent an average of $690 on holiday spending.

Gifts for Family

At an average of $393.55, the NRF found that more than half of the consumer’s entire holiday budget was spent on gifts for family members. This doesn’t necessarily come as a surprise, as most big-ticket items are purchased for family members such as children, spouses and loved ones.

Some of the most popular items from this category included video game systems, jewelry, electronics, and vacations. It’s easy to see how quickly these costs can escalate.

Food

Food is the second highest holiday-related cost. Last year the average American spent $86.32 on food and candy.  While I expected this number to fall lower in the ranks of holiday spending, once the cost of contributing to holiday parties (especially if you host your own), potlucks, work and school functions are factored in, it’s easy to see why this category takes a substantial slice of the holiday budget.

Gifts for Friends

Last year, the average consumer spent $71.45 in this category. I have to admit that I was surprised that consumers spent less on gifts for friends than food. I can’t speak for every consumer, but my personal circle of friends has decided not to exchange gifts for the past few years. Perhaps we will revisit the tradition during more fruitful economic times.

Decorations

Holiday decorations consumed $41.51 of last year’s average budget. This is a broad and wide-ranging category, but some of these items include, but are not limited to:

Gift wrap and ribbon

Mistletoe and garland

Christmas Tree

Christmas lights and ornaments

Gingerbread houses

The next time my husband complains about the boxes of Christmas decorations taking up space in “his garage”, I’m going to remind him that we are saving money by reusing those items year after year.

Gifts for Co-workers

Oh, the dreaded office gift exchange! Consumers spent approximately $18.26 on small gifts for bosses and co-workers, which comes as no surprise. As holiday budgets get smaller and smaller, cutting costs from this category seems like a no-brainer.

Other Gifts, Greeting Cards and Postage, and Flowers

These three categories added up to $77.78, with “Other Gifts” ($34.82) eating up the majority of that figure. It’s easy for miscellaneous postage fees and last minute gifts to throw a wrench in the holiday spending plan. Although, with careful planning and budgeting overspending in this area is avoidable.

After seeing the breakdown of last year’s consumer holiday spending, I have a much better perspective on the average American’s holiday costs and I am confident that this year I will be able to stay within my budget.

How does your holiday budget compare to last year’s average?

Have you budgeted your holiday expenses yet? Here is a hand worksheet that will get you started.

Morgan is a freelance writer and blogger living in Southern California with her husband, two daughters, and flock of backyard chickens. You can read more of her at The Little Hen House.

The fake Santas and the fraudsters with empty gas cans are relatively easy to spot, as I mentioned last week. But what about the businesses that scam you “legally”?

Oh, they’re out there.

In this world, there are two kinds of scams – the “lowercase” ones that are obviously criminal in nature (think pyramid scheme, confidence trick and common swindles) and the “uppercase” scams perpetrated by established businesses.

Those are the worst. Why? Because there’s no law that can protect you from them.

And at no time are you in more danger of falling for one than right now, at the height of the holiday shopping season. American consumers are recklessly spending their money during the next few weeks. Yeah, even in this economy.

Here’s what you could fall for:

The gift card

What could be more practical than giving a gift card for the holidays? Americans give $90 billion worth of gift cards every year, according to a recent study by Plastic Jungle — most of it during the holidays. But up to 7 percent of the cards go unredeemed- often because of very short expiration dates that render the cards difficult to use. That’s more than $6 billion of your money that companies know they will be able to keep. Might as well throw the cash on the old Yule Log. A new federal law prohibits short expiration dates on store credit and limits certain fees, but that’s unlikely to change the fact that on balance, gift cards are a completely legitimate scam that have probably cost you hundreds of dollars. Worse, you might not even know about it.

You’re better off buying a present or giving money. Even a pre-paid card, like a Visa Gift Card, is preferable – and has fewer restrictions – than the average gift card.

The fake liquidation sale

At a time when the economy is sluggish, and several businesses in your neighborhood may be liquidating – or saying they’re liquidating, be on the lookout for this scam. First, know this: When a big business goes under, the final sale is handled by a liquidator whose job it is to get the most from the remaining merchandise. So when you show up at the old Borders store that’s about to close, bear in mind that the prices could be marked up – not down – from their normal prices. (During a Linens’n’Things liquidation, for example, mystery shoppers discovered items marked up by as much as 14 percent).

Why do we fall for it? Easy. We see the words “going out of business” and “sale” which lowers our defenses and it’s also the holidays, so there’s a sense of urgency to the purchase – a winning combination, if you’re a professional liquidator. What’s more, marking up items and calling it a sale is perfectly legal. Watch out!

The Christmas toy craze

Remember Cabbage Patch Kids? How about Tickle Me Elmo? Or Beanie Babies, Furby or Pokemon? Absolutely legal, all of them. And a one-way ticket to scam-ville, if you fell for them. In the 21^st century, fad toys (that what they’re called) “sell out” quickly and are only available at a steep markup from select stores or online. I’ve always been wary of these “must-have” items, but they’re highly susceptible to artificial shortages – retailers claiming these are the last ones, a high-pressure sales tactic that forces you to make a buying decision right now.

How do you tell if the toy is part of a legal scam? If you’ve received several spam messages offering the “last” Pogs at a discount, chances are you’re wading into the dark waters of a scam. Their claim is unverifiable and meaningless, but worse, it there’s no law protecting you against it. Plus, the business is preying on you at a time when you’re at your most vulnerable: during the holidays.

The takeaway, my friends, is this: The legal, “uppercase” scams await you all year, but they are especially bad now.

Be on your guard. Think before you buy. Because these swindles happen in broad daylight – and you could be an easy mark.

Christopher Elliott is a consumer advocate who blogs about getting better customer service at On Your Side. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook or send him your questions at by email.

Compared with the $516 the average U.S. consumer will spend on holiday gifts this year, less than $50 on a turkey and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving is a drop in the bucket. But it’s an expense that’s worth cutting, if you can.

Last year, the American Farm Bureau estimated the average Thanksgiving dinner for 10 – including turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, coffee and milk — cost $45. They haven’t released their latest survey yet, but with big price hikes this year and the USDA projecting widespread increases of 3.5% to 4.5% next year, it’s bound to be somewhat pricier.

If you’re not careful, anyway. Shoppers who want to save have plenty of opportunity to do Thanksgiving, cheaper. Here’s how to cut your costs: 

Collect coupons. This time of year, most supermarkets run promotions offering a free or cheap bird based on how much you spend in store, says self-described extreme couponer Marcia Layton Turner. (BJs, for example, has one through Nov. 16.) Also look for sales on common ingredients, like stuffing mix and pie crust, leading up to Thanksgiving. “Between Sunday newspaper inserts, manufacturer web sites, coupon sites and clipping services, you should have no trouble amassing coupons for nearly every item on that shopping list,” she says.

Go big. Butterball recommends planning for a pound and a half per person, but with turkey prices at their cheapest and plenty of free birds to be had, why not get more? That way you’ll have plenty for leftovers.

But not too big. “Be realistic about what you will eat at dinner and what you can consume in leftovers,” says Kevin Gallegos, the vice president of Phoenix operations with Freedom Debt Relief, LLC. Send some home with guests, and freeze what you can. You might also consider donating some extras to a soup kitchen, he says.

Let guests help. You don’t have to do it all. “’What can I bring’ is the typical response following a dinner invitation, so indulge yourself and your guests by taking them up on the offer,” says Andrea Woroch, a consumer savings expert with TheFrugals.com. It’ll save prep time and cash.

Assess prepared foods. “Buying a frozen apple pie on sale with a coupon may cost less than 
making it from scratch and it’s certainly easier,” says Stephanie Nelson, a.k.a. the Coupon Mom. Buying a pumpkin pie, on the other hand, might be more expensive than making one — which is a pretty easy recipe to follow. Weigh the cost in time and ingredients against the price of premade. Woroch says some pre-prepared foods carry a premium of 40%.

Bulk-buy alcohol. Hit up the warehouse club for single bottles of wine or packs of beer, even bigger bottles of liquor for cocktails. “Their selection borders on overwhelming, but with deals at 30% less than those offered by grocery stores, it’s easy to pick up a few guest favorites on the cheap,” Woroch says.

Break out the good china. Or at least forego plastic and paper ware to reduce waste and cut costs, Gallegos says. Borrow extras from family or friends if you’re short on place settings.  

Brine. It’ll spruce up even a so-so sale turkey, making the cooked bird juicy and delicious, says chef Eric Gruber of Shore lodge, Whitetail Club and The Cove in McCall, Idaho. Combine a gallon water, four cups bourbon, four cups salt, two cups honey, a cup Dijon mustard, a quarter-cup dry mustard, two tablespoons paprika, six cloves garlic, two tablespoons black peppercorns, two bay leaves and a cup cider vinegar in a stock pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Chill the brine and then strain it. Pour the brine into a sealable container, place the turkey in the brine and put it all in the refrigerator. Let the bird marinate for 12 to 24 hours before cooking.

 Frugal Foodie is a journalist based in New York City who spends her days writing about personal finance and obsessing about what she’ll have for dinner. Chat with her on Twitter through @MintFoodie http://www.twitter.com/mintfoodie.

Ahh, the holidays: A time to share good cheer and joy with family and friends. But the demands of preparing for that good cheer and merriment can take its toll. Click on ”launch infographic” to expand the image above and get our step-by-step guide to staying sane this holday season.

The holidays are high season for scam artists. That’s because consumers like you are at your most vulnerable when you’re seeking gifts for your loved ones. (It’s the most wonderful time of the year, isn’t it?)

There are two kinds of scams, as I identify in my new book Scammed: How to Save Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals:

• “Lowercase” scams, which are obvious rip-offs, like giving money to a nonexistent charity.
• “Uppercase” scams, which are perpetuated by real businesses with a product. But, they attempt to defraud you by doing things like mislabeling a product as being “on sale” when, in fact, it’s been marked up.

Make no mistake, it’s open season on shoppers, and both kinds of scams are all around you. One recent survey estimated that the average American household spends $1,700 on holiday shopping. Some businesses earn a bulk of their revenue between Black Monday and New Year’s Day, while others spring up around that time (only to disappear afterwards).

Everyone – including the scam artists – are out in full force. Here are three common lowercase scams to look for. Next week, I’ll take a look at the uppercase scams.

Bogus Bell Ringers (and other Holiday Come-Ons)

While a vast majority of the bell ringers that stand in front of the department store are legit, it’s still worth paying attention to them. Are they with the Salvation Army, which sponsors the Red Kettle Christmas Campaign – i.e.-  the real deal? If not, you might want to take your money elsewhere, or just make your donation online. In one story that made the rounds a few years ago, thieves stole several bell-ringer jackets and officials feared they could pose as bogus bell-ringers. Be aware before making a donation. Just because some guy is dressed in a Santa suit doesn’t make him authentic.

The Gas Can Scam

This is a favorite confidence scam during the holidays, because it’s relatively easy to pull off in the parking lot of a busy mall. Here’s how it works: The scammer approaches you with a gas can and a tall tale about having run out of fuel. He’s desperate to get home to his family. Could you “lend” him just a few dollars? I’ve personally been approach by one of these scam artists during the holidays, a time when a lot of folks are feeling charitable. You’re better off phoning mall security, which is in a far better position to help a stranded motorist – and much less likely to fall for a fraud.

Holiday Dot-Cons

Christmas is a time for online shenanigans, according to George Delta and Jeffrey Matsuura’s book, Law of the Internet. The level of fraud encountered by U.S. online retailers is estimated to be hundreds of millions of dollars each season, they note. In one cybercrime enforcement sweep, federal authorities charged approximately 135 people with various forms of Internet fraud, affecting 89,000 victims and inflicting about $176 million in damage. A few years ago in England, more than 1,200 sites were shut down during the holidays offering everything from designer goods to counterfeit jewelry. How to avoid them? Buy from someone you know and trust, and always, always pay with a credit card.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the perilous “lowercase” scams that lurk while you do your holiday shopping. But these are likely to affect consumers like you the most.

Give to a reputable charity, patronize businesses you trust and don’t believe everything a stranger tells you. I guarantee your holidays will be a lot happier if you do.

Christopher Elliott is a consumer advocate who blogs about getting better customer service at On Your Side. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook or send him your questions at by email.

A house full of bags of mini Milky Way and Snickers bars, Gobstoppers and Nerds is almost a necessary evil this time of year. But after the trick-or-treaters have come and gone, what’s a cook to do with all that leftover candy?

First, consider reducing your haul — by U.S. Census estimates, most of the 24 pounds of candy we consume annually is eaten around Halloween. Dentists around the country are offering to buy back  candy for $1 per pound. You’ll get extra cash for healthier fare, and the sweets are sent to U.S. troops abroad. (Operation ShoeBox the same without the kickback, if you’re feeling selfless.) “I did it last year and got the best thank you note,” says Stephanie Corey of Miss Stephanie’s Potions.

It’s time to get creative. When in doubt, chopped, frozen chocolate can last months for use in cooking. Try these recipes to use up your Halloween stash during the rest of the holiday season:

Indian Corn Truffles

Pamela Braun of My Man’s Bely.com makes these truffles from Indian Corn, the candy corn that’s brown, red and white — which has a more chocolate-y taste. “These truffles are easy to make and would be a perfect addition to the 
Thanksgiving meal that’s coming up,” she says.

Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies

Plug “candy corn” into the leftover wizard at BigOven.com and one of the recipes that pops up are these turkey-shaped sugar cookies. (The corn makes great tail feathers.)

Halloween Rocky Road Brownies

Flour company White Lily has a candy-and-marshmallow-topped brownie recipe.  “The rich flavor of the brownie is delicious when paired with festive candy corn and a marshmallow topping,” says a spokeswoman.

Halloween Rocky Road Bars

Close, but no brownies: Frugal Foodie makes a version of Nigella Lawson’s bars year-round. For Halloween, she uses chopped Snickers bars and Rolos, but a number of candy options from your Halloween bag will work just fine. 

Homemade Mocha

Here’s a DIY fancy coffee shop drink. “Just drop a fun-size chocolate bar in your coffee,” suggests a spokeswoman for Eight O’ Clock Coffee.

Candied Pears

Quirky, but fun. Dental supply company SmileMakers is sponsoring a Halloween contest  encouraging kids to use their candy to decorate canned pears. Licorice becomes octopus arms, Swedish fish become turkey feathers, etc. And then, of course, eat the results after snapping a photo to submit.

Reese’s Cheesecake

Chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups feature as an ingredient and a topping in this recipe.

No-Gingerbread Candy House

“We take all the candy left over and make a candy house,” says Mint.com reader Heidi Mylo. Construct the house out of cardboard, and use frosting to cement pieces.

“The secret to this is once the candy is on the house, it does not get eaten,” Mylo says. It’s just a great decoration throughout the holiday season.

Candy Cupcakes

Frugal Foodie uses 3 Musketeers and Milky Way bars in chocolate cupcakes. Freeze mini candy bars and make cupcakes as usual, any recipe. Place a frozen bar in the middle of each cupcake just before baking. That way, the candy melts but doesn’t really blend into the rest of the cupcake batter.

Cookie Pizza

Make your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, or use store-bought dough. Spread the dough onto a greased round cookie pan so that it is roughly pizza shaped. Top the baked cookie with a variety of candy, as well as chocolate or caramel sauce. You can also add some candy before baking, if you want some that’s more melted.

Frugal Foodie is a journalist based in New York City who spends her days writing about personal finance and obsessing about what she’ll have for dinner. Chat with her on Twitter through @MintFoodie http://www.twitter.com/mintfoodie.

Are you ready to hear a spooky Halloween story that is truly creeptastic? According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend nearly $7 billion this year on Halloween, making it the third largest holiday behind Christmas and Valentine’s Day. To give you an idea of just how scary that figure is, in 2005 consumers planned on spending just over $3 billion. So, why the dramatic increase and what does all that Halloween spending money go towards?

A Look at the Numbers

The 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey conducted by BigResearch on behalf of the National Retail Federation, found that seven in ten Americans plan on celebrating Halloween, up 64% from last year and the most in the federation’s 10-year survey history. This year, more consumers plan on dressing in costume spending a whopping $2.5 billion on costumes, alone. Consumers are even indulging pets in the fun with an estimated $310 million being spent on pint-sized pet costumes.

Russel Stover made a leap of faith and started stocking store’s shelves with Halloween candy as early as mid-August. While the timing seemed premature, the tactic apparently paid off. “People started buying it when we put it out,” said Tom Ward, president of the Kansas City-based candy company. “They are thirsty for a little seasonal reprieve from the bad economy, gas prices.”

The Reasons Behind the Increase

It’s likely the economy is the explanation behind the dramatic rise in Halloween spending. It’s a celebration where creativity reigns and as a non-gift giving holiday, even consumers on the tightest of budgets can indulge in the fun. Escapism also tends to trend during poor economic times: The movie industry boomed during the Depression and romance novel sales soared during the last recession.

Also, Halloween no longer about simply passing out candy to neighborhood children, and is increasingly becoming about indulging in fantasy and adult-themed fun. “Halloween isn’t just for kids anymore, as adults are just as likely to get in on the fun with clever, unique costumes,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “With Halloween falling on a Monday, restaurants and retailers will benefit as many Americans celebrate all weekend long.”

If anything, this upswing in consumer Halloween spending is the making of some scary good sales boosts in these frightening economic times. Consumers are going batty for Halloween and it’s thrilling enough to send chills down retailer’s spines.

How about the rest of you: Why do you think the popularity of Halloween is on the rise?

About the survey: NRF’s 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Surveys were conducted for NRF by BIGresearch. The poll of 9,374 consumers was conducted from Sept. 6-14. The consumer polls have a margin of error of plus or minus 1.0 percent.

Fall farmers’ market fanatics had an early Halloween scare this year amid reports that a wet summer might result in a shortage of pumpkins.

No pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns? For pies, soups and salads? The horror! Luckily, it didn’t happen. Even though some areas are seeing slightly higher prices, pumpkins are still fairly plentiful and cheap, as are other squash. This time of year, in fact, many varieties are at their cheapest, running less than $1 per pound.

They’re versatile, too. If you’re buying pumpkin solely for pie or carving, you’re missing out. Consider these other recipes to make the most of this frighteningly cheap Halloween favorite:

Winter squash dip

Members of the CSA at Winter Sun Farms in Asheville, N.C. clamor for this recipe, says spokeswoman Kathi Petersen. “It’s heavenly,” she says. To make it, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the tops off two heads of garlic and place on a large piece of foil. Drizzle with two tablespoons olive oil, and wrap loosely. Bake about 50 minutes, and then let cool slightly. Meanwhile, melt four tablespoons unsalted butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add eight sliced scallions (white and pale-green parts) and cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about 4
minutes. Place a pound of squash puree in a food processor. Squeeze garlic from skins and add to squash. Add scallions and two chopped chipotle chilis, and pulse until smooth. Add a cup each of sour cream and cream cheese, a quarter-cup Parmesan and a tablespoon lemon juice, and pulse until just combined. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for an hour before serving.

Kabocha squash and goat cheese mash

Executive Chef, Erin Eastland of Cube Café & Marketplace in Los Angeles makes this savory mash, with a little goat cheese and honey for tang.

Pumpkin-apple brownies

Forget chocolate. This kind from Cynthia Briggs of the Country Chef Reader blog have a texture that’s just as fudgy, thanks to a mix of pumpkin, banana and apple.

Ribollita

“While in Florence as a student I ate it practically every day,” says Christy Greene of Jacksonville, Fla. “It’s inexpensive and traditionally is reheated on the stove each day and any available veggies or scraps are added as they come available.” To make her version, wash and stem two medium zucchini or squash. Halve each lengthwise, and then halve each piece again, and then cut vertically to make eight equal sections. Saute the squash with a medium chopped onion, and two cloves of crushed garlic in two tablespoons olive oil until the squash is lightly browned and the onions are translucent. Add one to four tablespoons of Italian seasoning (to taste), a can or two of tomatoes with juice, a drained can of cannelloni beans and four cups of chicken stock. Simmer until flavors are well developed. Serve in a bowl over a thick slice of Italian bread (“Day old or stale is best,” she says) and top with Parmesan.

Pumpkin margarita

Partida has a seasonal twist on the margarita, using pumpkin. To make, mix two ounces Partida Reposado Tequila, an ounce of fresh lime or lemon juice, and a splash of pumpkin puree. Garnish the rim with sesame seeds.

Pumpkin stuffing

Consider this your new Thanksgiving centerpiece: a sausage and wild rice stuffing cooked on the grill inside a pumpkin. Taste of BBQ.com blogger, Ian Bowen says he’s perfected the recipe over several years.

Risotto with pumpkin, ginger and sage

“I’m always looking for ways to cook pumpkin in the fall when Halloween is all around — it always feels festive and comforting,” says Peter Berley, chef at The Culinary Loft in NYC. His solution: this recipe, which also appears in Fanae Aaron’s “What Chefs Feed Their Kids.” In large sauté pan, heat two tablespoons olive oil over medium heat and, when warm, add a cup of finely chopped leek, three cups peeled and cubed pumpkin or squash, and a tablespoon minced fresh ginger. Sauté for five minutes. Meanwhile, heat five cups water or vegetable stock in a pot and season with salt and pepper if needed; keep warm over a low flame. In the sauté pan, stir in a tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage and a cup and a half Arborio rice. Once the rice starts to become translucent, add a half-cup dry white wine and stir. Cook until the wine is all absorbed; then add the stock ladle by ladle, being sure the liquid is absorbed before adding the next ladle, and stirring frequently. Continue until the rice is al dente, about 20 to 25 minutes. Add two tablespoons unsalted butter and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 1 to 2 minutes, then stir in a half cup Parmesan. Turn off the heat and let the risotto rest, uncovered, for 3 minutes before serving. Add sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Serve sprinkled with parsley and toasted pumpkin seeds.

Sweet roasted squash

Roasted squash is more common as a side dish, but topped with vanilla and brown sugar, this recipe from Spice Islands is more of a dessert.

Pumpkin coconut muffins

Morph pumpkin into breakfast. Sarah Caron of Sarah’s Cucina Bella pairs it with coconut in this muffin recipe .  

Frugal Foodie is a journalist based in New York City who spends her days writing about personal finance and obsessing about what she’ll have for dinner. Chat with her on Twitter through @MintFoodie http://www.twitter.com/mintfoodie.

Yes, it’s only September, but have you noticed how Wal-Mart, Costco and other stores are bringing out the tinsel and tree ornaments already? It’s annoying how early retailers try to promote Christmas when it’s still beach weather, but perhaps it’s wise to consider following their example. After all, do you really want to pay sky-high airfare for the flight back home for the holidays? Or get stuck in crowded malls the week before Christmas with no idea what to buy that special someone? Avoid all the stress – and save money in the process – by following these tips below.

Make a list, create a budget

You’re making a list of who you want to buy presents for. Then you’re checking it twice to make sure you have enough money to spend on everyone. In between those two actions should come the making-a-budget deed. You need to figure out how much you can spend overall for the holidays – including travel and holiday partying. To get an idea of what you spent last year, dig out your credit-card statements from last December and January.

Mint has two tools that can help you do this. First, you can set a goal for a holiday-shopping budget, enter how much money you need, set a date and link your goal to specific accounts so it’s easy to stick to plan. On a longer-term basis, you can create ”holiday shopping” as a line item in your budget, and Mint shows you how your overall spending decisions will affect how much you have left by the time you need to shop – and also helps you re-adjust your budget in other areas so you’ve got enough to spend for the grandparents.

Now it’s time to make the list, writing down family, friends, neighbors, even the babysitter. Then decide how much you want to spend on each person, keeping the bottom line in mind. Of course, you can reallocate your money as you go along, but it’s wise to buy in order of importance. Don’t forget to include gift wrap and shipping.

Go gift-shopping now

Ideally, it’s wise to buy holiday gifts throughout the year, when prices aren’t given the holiday markups, but you still have three months to find out what recipients want and make your shopping list. Google “gift guides” to search for ideas before you hit the pavement.  You’ll get an idea of what’s easier (and cheaper) to buy online and know what you can only get at a store.  To comparison shop online, use PriceGrabber.com, BizRate.com and DealHack.com. Save extra by buying at sites that offer free shipping if you purchase over a certain amount.

You can save even more money if you decide to make homemade gifts, and here’s where it really pays off to plan ahead (you don’t want to be knitting those sweater sleeves on Christmas morning). While they may take more time and effort than just going to the mall, it is cheaper. Plus the recipient may treasure your gift even more. Some good DIY gift ideas come from Get Rich Slowly and, of course, Martha Stewart.

Book those airplane seats

If you’re planning on traveling during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays this year, advance planning is the only way to go. Previous years indicate that airlines start pitching holiday sales right after Labor Day, holiday flights are at their cheapest during the first half of October, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days to snag a deal. However, you can start comparing airfares now to see what current prices are, then see if they drop in September or October. The best way to find out is compare what’s on offer for several days among multiple providers;  check on their Facebook and Twitter pages, as some airlines offer exclusive deals there. You can also sign up for travel alerts from sites like Kayak or AirfareWatchdog so you’ll be notified when the price changes. Use Bing.com’s Price Predictor to see if there’s a chance the fare will increase or decline.

But don’t ponder a good deal for too long – airline capacity cuts means fewer seats at lower prices, so once you see a good price for your budget, you’ll want to jump on it.

Regarding the land portion of holiday travel, the more you do in advance, the less mental and financial stress will accompany you on your journey. Check for holiday specials by using either a travel agent, an online travel booking site, or by directly contacting the place you want to stay.

If you’re traveling with a large family, ask about group discounts. And be aware of blackouts — be sure that special discounts you had planned on using, like credit-card airline miles or a AAA discount, are usable during the holiday season. You may want to see if traveling just before or just after Christmas can save you money or reap better options on accommodations.

Earn more money

There’s a few ways to shore up your gift-buying account in the next few months. One is to get a part-time job or take on tasks that will give you some spare change. If you have items you need to return stores, use the cash you get back for your holiday account. Or if it’s store credit, save it and come back to use it on a gift for someone on your list. And now’s the time to use those reward points and cash-back deals on your credit card. If your card lets you get airfare miles, now’s the time to redeem them for a trip home for the holidays.

Vanessa Richardson is a freelance writer in San Francisco who writes about small business and personal finance.

Is Valentine’s Day your favorite holiday or what? Whether you’re single or married, in a serious relationship or casually dating, one thing is for sure: you’re expected to make an impression on your significant other. And there is no lack of businesses lined up to capitalize on those expectations. Restaurants dust off the special prix fixe menus where every meal is “romantic” and très cher, the price of a dozen roses suddenly doubles and so does that of a candy box, just because it’s shaped like a heart. Don’t despair, though: there are ways to romance your sweetheart without breaking the bank. For some very practical suggestions, check out our flowchart.

Shane Snow is the founder of Visual Economics and Printing Choice.