Tackling your holiday shopping without a budget will make it difficult to ensure that you are spending within your means. This year, get a handle on your finances by creating a spending plan. Here are four budgeting tips that can help you avoid some of the usual post-holiday financial stress and even save a bit of money along the way.

1. Take stock of all your expenses

Many people are not aware of just how many holiday expenses they have until after they have finished paying for everything. Before you start shopping, sit down and make a list of what you need to buy for the season. This list will likely be mainly composed of holiday gifts for others, but make sure you also take into account things like decorations, gift wrap, travel expenses, new clothes for parties, and extra groceries for holiday dinners.

Don’t forget about all of your regular expenses as well, like your rent, mortgage payment, internet bill, vehicle maintenance, regular groceries, and the like. If you didn’t already have a budget for everyday expenses, now is a great time to create one.

2. Set spending limits

Next, go through each expense on your list and set a spending limit so that you can add it all up at the end to see how much you can expect your holidays to cost. With everything laid out in front of you, it will be easier to tweak the gift budget for each person and to adjust other expenses accordingly as well.

The key is to be realistic and to prioritize expenses that are more important to you. If your main concern is getting good presents for your loved ones, for example, then you may decide not to get a new outfit for a work Christmas party and wear something you already own instead.

3. Start shopping early

If you start your holiday shopping too late, you may end up spending much more than you planned. Shoppers in a pinch are more likely to pay more because they simply don’t have the time to look for better deals. Prices also tend to go up as the season progresses due to higher demand. Online shopping is a convenient way to get started early, as you can do it from the comfort of your home. Plus, it makes it a lot easier to compare deals and find the best prices.

4. Keep tabs on your spending

As the shopping season progresses, make sure you keep good track of your spending. Make a habit out of logging into your online banking every day and going over your transactions. If you had some unexpected expenses, this will give you time to adjust your budget. Likewise, if you’ve been able to save more than anticipated, you may be able to allot more money to another expense. This is a good habit to keep up after the holidays as well.

By creating and sticking to a budget, you’ll be able to minimize your debt and enjoy the holidays with fewer financial worries weighing you down. Just play it smart, spend only what you can, and don’t forget to budget for a little something for yourself as well.