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Beginning to save for the winter holidays early is realistic and sensible. Perhaps you don’t even want to start thinking about all the holiday hassle now, but the holidays will be a WHOLE LOT LESS of a hassle if you start saving for them now.

Expenses abound from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. Being prepared will help you relax and enjoy the friends, food, and family that accompany the holiday season. Beginning to save now gives you several months to accumulate sufficient funds to cover anticipated and unexpected expenses. Think of it this way: it’s better to spend five months saving than five months paying off credit card bills with high interest rates.

What, exactly, is so expensive about the holidays anyway? Here are some potential expenses associated with the holiday season you may not have considered.

* Travel
With gasoline prices ever-changing, it’s good to prepare for the most expensive scenario and save accordingly. Your car may need repairs, too, and if you get those taken care of in the slower summer months it will be one less expense to deal with during the busy holiday season. If you’re traveling by air, saving money for air fare and booking flights well ahead gives you time to look for good deals. The same is true for hotel reservations.

* Hosting
It’s easy to underestimate the cost of hosting a holiday party, or having overnight guests. Food, party decorations, favors, etc. all need to be considered. Also, your house guests will use more utilities such as electricity and water. And let’s not forget the cost of that attractive party outfit you’ll be wearing!

* Food
The holidays are a time when special food is served, from elegant chocolates to shrimp cocktail to turkey. These are all expensive items that tend to increase in price around the holidays. Saving in the summer, when food costs tend to be lower, will pay off when the holidays roll around.

* Gifts
You’ve probably thought of gifts already, but do you have a specific amount in mind that you can spend? Have you considered actually buying Christmas gifts in the summer? Determine your gift budget and start saving, and once you have made your gift list (and checked it twice), you can keep an eye out for summer sales and the “perfect” gift. If you wait until the holiday season is underway before buying, there’s always the risk that the gift you want will be out of stock, and the crowds of holiday shoppers can be daunting. Starting early also helps you avoid the last-minute panic that may cause you to buy a less-than-ideal gift that costs more than you can afford.

* Accessories
The little things can really add up – cards, postage stamps, batteries, wrapping paper, decorations, etc. Remember how much last year’s Christmas tree cost? It will probably be just as much if not more this year!

The holiday season is a wonderful time of sharing good food, traditions, and building new memories. Begin your holiday saving now and when it comes time to get into your new outfit, prepare a turkey dinner, or give your friends meaningful gifts, you will be able to enjoy the festivities without the stress of figuring out how to pay for it all.