Article courtesy of Payne Financial Group's Live Well, Work Well newsletter, December 2011 issue.

Do the holidays have you stressing about your budget? Here are some shopping tips to get the most for your money:

• - Create a holiday budget and stick to it. Remember to include gift wrap, cards, entertaining expenses, decorations and postage along with gifts.
• - If you want to buy a gift beyond your means, ask a family member to chip in with you rather than break your budget.
• - Don't just go to one store for the item you want. Check sale ads, look for coupons and compare prices online first.
• - Considering purchasing online - you often can find much better prices. Group purchases to save on shipping costs.
• - When possible, use coupons in conjunction with store deals to maximize your savings.
• - Plan to pay off everything you buy in full, so you're not stuck paying for this holiday season for months or longer.

After the holidays, consider opening a short-term savings account to start saving early and ease next year's budget strain!