Mike also suggests that you do some of your shopping online. This will allow you to compare pricing options and shipping costs for the same gift at different online stores.

"The other big factor ... is that I'd rather not be shopping with the masses, and online shopping saves me the hassle of trying to fight through the crowds," he says.

At the same time, Mike says, "I think that there's a better chance that you don't get caught up in the impulse buys online, because you're not bombarded online nearly as much with different items and different offers ... I think there probably is a factor there that you can save from those impulse purchases, but again, be cautious as you're buying online that you're buying those items that are on your list."

If you follow all of these tips and still think you're going to come up short on holiday cash, Mike suggests that you consider looking for a seasonal, part-time job.

"A lot of retailers will hire part-time individuals to help out with the Christmas and holiday season, and those are jobs that can sometimes be fairly flexible as far as hours," he says. "If you're in a situation where you can accommodate those kinds of commitments, it's a good way to increase your Christmas budget so you can: one, not go into debt, and/or two, come through the holidays with some extra cash in hand."

If you want more assistance, American Credit Foundation offers a free holiday handbook with additional suggestions. Go online to debtguru.com/hbooklet.html and sign up.

I hope these ideas help you keep your holiday spending under control, and I'd be interested in hearing your own tips. Or, if you have financial questions, send them to gkratz@desnews.com or to the Deseret News, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110.

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E-mail: gkratz@desnews.com