If you shop online, look for coupons and free shipping, which many retailers will be offering.
If you shop at a mall, take frequent breaks to assess the damage. "Every other hour, pull out the receipts and see where you are. Have you overspent?" says Gail Cunningham, a spokeswoman with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. If so, you'll have to cut back somewhere else.
Avoid shopping at peak times at malls, Lynch says. If you shop when stores are packed, you will be less likely to comparison-shop because you'll be eager to escape the crowds, she says.
Pay with cash
One of the scariest findings in the Consumer Reports survey is that about 12 million people are still paying off debt from last year's holidays.
Avoid this holiday hangover by paying with cash instead of credit cards so you can't spend more than you have. (Even debit cards that pull money directly out of your account can be costly if you get slapped with a hefty fee for going over your limit.)
Plan ahead for next year
After the holidays, add up the amount you spent on gifts, food, travel and other holiday expenses. Then divide that number by 10, Cunningham says. The answer will tell you how much you should save each month next year to have enough cash on hand a year from now for the holidays, she says.
