Five Simple Ways to Cut Back on Costs This Holiday Season

(ARA) - With the brisk air settling and the end of the year quickly approaching, many people are eagerly turning their focus towards holiday preparation and excitement for the wonderful things to come. From gatherings with friends and family to building a snowman in the first snowfall, traditional activities will begin anew. But one tradition that may bring more anxiety than excitement this season is the anticipation of holiday spending and gift giving.

It should come as no surprise to most that economists are predicting significantly less spending this holiday season than in previous years. Facing growing financial concerns, a lack of confidence in the economy, and rising food and fuel costs, many shoppers will be much more conservative with their holiday spending.

But there is good news that should turn that "Bah Humbug" attitude around. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways a savvy shopper can avoid the squeeze to ensure that the "season of giving" remains just as it is.

Here are five simple ways to cut back on costs this holiday season without having to cut back on giving:

* Be Thrifty!
Believe it or not, it is possible to get top of the line items without paying top of the line prices. Seek gifts from consignment shops and thrift stores. Savvy shoppers can find everything from designer clothes and shoes to home appliances and furniture, all for highly discounted prices. Often these items can be found brand new.

* Stay Alert.
Just because a deal seems too good to be true doesn't mean it is. Utilize retailer incentives and in-store promotions. Offers such as free shipping, buy-one-get-one-free or "the more you spend the more you save" are great ways to save excess funds, particularly when buying multiple gifts at once or when buying in bulk.

* Shop Smart for Practical Items.
Buying gifts during the holidays is often just the tip of the iceberg. It's the food and other everyday items that add up too. The good news is you don't have to skimp on quality to save on cost. Shop smart and choose brands that offer great performance at a lower price. Take batteries, for instance. Americans will spend more than $600 million on them this holiday season. But there's an easy way to save. Rayovac batteries are proven to last just as long as the top two brands but cost less. So that remote control car for Johnny may cost an arm and a leg, but the batteries don't have to.

* Create a List.
This is probably the easiest and yet most underestimated tool there is -- create a list and stick to it. Creating a list accomplishes a couple of very important things: it helps shoppers stay organized and focused, and it serves as a good tool for managing a budget. Take extra time upfront to carefully think through who will be on the list and how the set budget will break out overall. It will make shopping a breeze and ultimately alleviate unnecessary stress along the way. And isn't that the best gift of all?

* Shop Online.
Online shopping has many benefits beyond avoiding crowded stores and checkout lines. A number of online couponing sites now make it quicker and easier than ever to shop online and save big. Shoppers can often browse by their favorite store or category to find coupon codes for discounted prices, free shipping and more. And you can achieve this from the comfort of home, where the gas prices don't matter.

Courtesy of ARAcontent