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What is the first thing that comes to mind when you wake up to the biggest hangover of your life? Outside of the atrocious nausea, headache, and hope that you didn’t embarrass yourself too much the night before; you are probably wondering why you put yourself through all of this.

When it comes to the holidays, the financial hangover normally happens on the third week of January. It is known as “Blue Monday”. This date marks the start of dark winter months, end to the social celebrations, and the first credit card bills of the year.

Preparation and discipline are going to be your two biggest weapons to surviving the holiday hangover. Hence, why this article is being published a few months before that dreadful day. Here are some simple tips and tricks to save money during the holidays so you aren’t one of the unlucky ones sulking in misery on January 21st of 2019.

Idea 1: Limit the number of family members who receive expensive gifts

Yeah you might catch up with your third cousins here and there, but do they really need to receive a set of new Nikes from you this year? The answer to that is, “no”. Instead of hurting your wallet for those distant relatives you only talk to every so often, try sending out cards with handwritten messages in them instead. Everyone appreciates a handwritten note during the holidays.

Idea 2: Be more creative with your presents

Pinterest offers several creative ideas of DIY (do it yourself) presents. Instead of spending tons of money on something, try making it instead. There is bound to be something worth trying out for that special someone. Some examples of this include DIY picture frames, coasters, plant holders, or even a DIY holiday cocktail kit. There are tons of examples of these gifts accessible with the click of a button. The best part is that they are all very simple, cheap, and easy gifts that look a lot more expensive than they actually are.

Idea 3: Be responsible with your credit card

I want to end my list of ideas with the most important one of all. Credit card debt is a huge issue in the United States, especially during the holiday months. Let’s try to not contribute to that dilemma by spending more than what we can afford. Make a list of people who will receive presents, create a budget, and try to look for special deals prior to the holiday season. i.e. Black Fridays/Cyber Mondays. There are dozens of deals offered on store websites where you can get a lot of bang for your buck. Some store examples include amazon, best buy, target, and many more. The best thing you can do is check their websites every so often to keep up with the continuous discounts and deals.

We hope these money saving ideas will help ease the pain of your financial hangover or better yet, prevent it! Feel free to share this article with others who might benefit from these tips. More importantly, we hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!