I know it may seem like a bit of an oxymoron with me giving financial advice, but trust me, I’m not that bad of a shop-a-holic!

Here is a excerpt from a 9-tip article I wrote for Passion Magazine on how you can help ease the strain on your wallet this holiday season:

1. Plan it out
Budgeting is key to tracking and saving your funds. Estimate how much money you’ll spend for the holiday season, write it down and stick to it.

2. Make a list and check it twice
Do you really need to buy your mail carrier’s brother a Christmas gift? Or even your neighbours whom you’ve only said “Good morning” to on occasion? Probably not. Make a list of people you intend to exchange gifts with in order of priority. You should also brainstorm gift ideas for each as well as jot down approximate prices to keep things organized. Trim the list if necessary.

3. Don’t procrastinate
Yes, the adrenalin rush of Christmas Eve shopping is tempting, but be the early bird for once. Avoid waiting until the last minute to shop so that you’ll have more time to compare prices at different stores. You can also take advantage of year-round sales this way. Boxing Day is a must if you want to save big on holiday items and future presents that you can hide away in your closet until next year.

4. Cash it
It may seem so much easier to swipe and sign, but paying with cash will benefit you in the long run. If you see the money leaving your hands, you may feel less inclined to part with it. You’ll also avoid being struck with bills and high interest come January.

Click here to read the rest of the article on PassionMag.ca.