Christmas is less than three months away and by now you should have started with your Christmas shopping. If you still have to buy a few more gift items or if you haven’t even started with your Christmas shopping, there is still plenty of time for you to do so. You just have to keep in mind a few important things if you want to avoid overspending or buying items which you don’t actually need.

Here are some practical tips on how you can become a responsible shopper this holiday season:

Create a budget

 It is important that you determine how much money you can allot for shopping. The Christmas bonus that you will be receiving from work may give you the urge to spend more than what is necessary which is why you have to be very conscious of how you spend every cent.  List the items that you need to buy and bring that list with you when you shop. Refrain from buying ‘small’ and seemingly ‘inexpensive’ items, such as a tube of lipstick which you don’t actually need, because these ‘small’ purchases can take up a huge part of your shopping budget without you even realizing it.

Pay in cash

When you use your credit card, it is easy for you to just purchase items without thinking about whether or not you actually need them. But if you use cash, you can immediately see how much you have spent.

Be creative and resourceful

Although it may be easy to get swayed by the latest trends, you must be able to determine if they fit your budget and more importantly, if you actually need them. If, for instance, you need to buy an outfit for a Christmas party that you need to attend, you can still look stylish even if you aren’t wearing designer clothes. Know which clothing stores offer stylish but affordable clothes. You must also know how to mix and match different clothing items so that you can create a whole new look every time even if you have only bought a handful of new clothes and accessories. You can still express your own fashion sense even if you don’t buy the most expensive clothing items.

Compare prices. You may be pressed for time but still, you need to think about your every purchase. You cannot just grab the first thing that you see from the store. There is a risk that you will end up with an overpriced item if you don’t pay attention to what you’re buying. If you don’t have the time to visit multiple retail shops, you can look into various online stores first. Most major retailers now have their own online stores and they basically offer the same items (and the same price). You can look into their online stores first so that you have an idea of how much their products cost.

Know where to get the best deals

Competition can be stiff for retailers especially during the holiday season which is why they come up with different schemes on how to attract the attention of shoppers. Take advantage of the different discounts and other special offers that your favorite retailer offers. If you are more of an online shopper, sign up for newsletters from your favorite online stores so that you will know when they will offer huge discounts on their more popular products.

Being a wise shopper is important if you want your Christmas shopping experience to be a fun and enjoyable one.  And you don’t have to spend more than what you can actually afford on gifts just to be able to spread cheer during this holiday season.