Jacksonville, FL — Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner which is why Consumer Warrior Clark Howard is checking in to make sure shoppers get the best of the deals without going broke.
"It's amazing how many people do so well with how you handle your money from January through October. And then you commit 'bill-icide' – that's when you allow the Christmas shopping season to rip your budget apart."
Clark says one reason for this is because people don’t spend as much time in stores during the other 10 months of the year compared to the holiday shopping crunch. He says on top of buying things for family members or loved ones – people should not forget to include themselves this shopping season.
"I know this is no fun to think about but I don't want you to have the January budget hangover."
According to Clark, the best way to set yourself up for success this holiday shopping season is to come up with a plan on how much you can afford to spend on gifts. Clark says once you get that number you need to stick to it and track it. Once you buy something, you need to subtract that number from the overall number.
LISTEN: Clark's latest podcast
If you’re the type who likes to spend money on themselves. Clark says if you end up spending more on yourself than you planned – just take somebody off your list.
SHOP: Clark's Deals of the Day
