Holiday shopping safety tips, plus a gift planner to save your sanity

Let’s be honest, shopping during the holiday season can be a little crazy. So we’ve compiled some holiday shopping safety tips to help you keep your sanity, and even have a little fun this season.

Plan out your gift giving

The holidays should be a joyous time, but too often we put extra stress to find that perfect gift, and our wallets take a hit. Financial guru Dave Ramsay gives the following tips on keeping your sanity during a stressful time:

• Create a budget and have a plan. Write down who you want to buy for and what you want to spend.
• Shop for one or two people a day to keep the mood light and bright.
• Go shopping on weekday mornings when there are smaller crowds.
• Take old gifts you don’t want anymore and wrap them up as a gag gift exchange.

Use these tips to make your holiday shopping a little easier, and plan out that budget so your wallet doesn’t take a hit.

We’ve also included some tips on what to pack for your shopping trip and some parking lot safety tips. Have fun and remember to stay safe out there.

Do you have additional tips? Share them with others on Facebook.