Christmas is the season to be jolly! Well, it's suppose to be, right? Unfortunately, because of credit card debt, being jolly isn't a part of many American's emotions during the holidays. Christmas comes around every year, but how many people actually prepare to have a debt-free Christmas? Because of debt, the most joyful time of the year has become the "Grinch." How can we control our spending over the holidays? What steps can we take to ensure a debt-free Christmas? The first step is simply to use cash instead of credit cards! Many of us will have to change our spending habits. We can do this by making fewer trips to the bank, and withdrawing the exact amount of money we need to make purchases. The best way to accomplish this is by developing a Christmas list ahead of time. Also, January is the best time to start saving for December's spending. What you should do, is set up a saving's plan specifically for Christmas spending from January to November. Then determine the total amount you plan to spend on gifts, and divide it by the number eleven. For example, if the shopping amount is $1,000.00 divide it by eleven, which is $90.90 per month. Finally, set up a separate bank account to deposit the $90.90 automatically, or put the cash aside in an envelope each month and hide it. If you stick to your plan, by December you will have $1,000.00 set aside for Christmas shopping!