It may be a bit early to start hanging Christmas lights on the house, but an article on _Bankrate.com_ noted that now is a good time to prepare financially for what is often the biggest budget-busting season of all. Among the ideas for a more joyful/less financially painful Christmas: Plan your gift list and holiday budget now; start setting aside some money for presents; be on the lookout for appropriate gifts that are on sale since the best sales are usually not found the week before Christmas!; and if you’re planning to travel for the holidays, book your trip now before all the inexpensive seats are taken.
h3(matt). Matt’s View
p(matt). One of my all-time favorite books about having a more joyful/less “debtful” Christmas is . It describes the fascinating history of Christmas and offers great ideas for adding joy to the holiday while spending less. Another good book on the topic is Mary Hunt’s .