The holidays can be expensive and stressful. Follow these tips so holiday spending doesn’t sneak up on you this season.

Set Your Budget

Before you buy any gifts, make sure you know how much you can spend. Take a look at your income and expenses, then figure out an appropriate number that won’t put a strain on your savings. Also, you should leave a little room for any last minute gifts you’ll need to buy. Following a budget during the holidays will help you avoid the regret of spending too much.

Don’t Buy, Make Your Own

Just because a gift is expensive, it doesn’t mean it’s the best to give. Something inexpensive, but made from the heart tends to be the most memorable present. Create something like a card, picture, or even a playlist. Doing a DIY gift will give the item so much meaning. Make it personal and the recipient will never forget it.

Use Your Reward Points

If you usually pay for things with a credit card then you probably have reward points. Take a look at what you have and use them to take some of the financial burden off yourself and make the holiday season a little less expensive. If you have a SeaComm Visa® Platinum, you earn points and cash back with every dollar spent! You can redeem your points for cashback, or use them to purchase quality merchandise at ScoreCardRewards.com.

For added convenience, ScoreCard® Rewards offers Premium Payback, which allows you to redeem your points right at the point of sale, virtually anywhere. Just make a qualifying purchase at a participating retailer and you will promptly receive a text message or email asking if you want to redeem your points to cover your purchase. If you choose to accept the offer, you will receive a statement credit to your account for the transaction amount. Click here to get started!