If the ads, songs, and lights weren't proof enough, the holiday season is officially upon us. And with the holiday season comes lots of shopping—for relatives, friends, kids, and even maybe yourself. With the increase in shopping activity, especially around Black Friday and the December holidays, the potential for you to overspend also increases.
Here are six simple tips you can follow to protect yourself and your budget this holiday season.
Before you even head to the store or fill your digital cart, you need to have a firm budget in place. If you maintain a budget throughout the year, this shouldn't be too difficult. However, make sure you're accounting for any additional expenses you may make this time of year, like travel, holiday meals, and more.
Once you have your budget mapped out, make sure you stick to it. With all the sales and shopping that is common to this time of year, it can be incredibly tempting to spend more than you planned to. Here are some basic questions to ask yourself that can help you stay within budget:
Stores and retailers are constantly promoting the best offer this time of year. Being a smart shopper requires doing a little bit of research! Look around to different stores and online retailers to see who is offering the best price for what you're looking to purchase.
Start to keep an eye out in the weeks leading up to Black Friday. It may be to your benefit to wait until this shopping holiday to make your purchase, but don't wait too long. By knowing the price of an item before Black Friday, you'll have a better sense of how strong the deal is that you're scoring.
Comparing prices perfectly leads into our next tip—remember to be smart with sales! A shiny sticker with a 50% off call-out may be tempting in the store, but how much are you actually saving? If you’ve done your research, you should have a good idea whether or not this is a sale you should take advantage of.
Sales also aren’t an excuse to move off your budget. In fact, they can be a direct factor when it comes to overspending. If you save money with the sale, while staying within your budget, it may be a winner.
Outside of sales, also keep an eye out for opportunities to earn rewards. This could come in the form of loyalty programs with specific stores, or cash back. From now through January 31, 2026, you’ll earn 3%* Cash Back for every purchase made with your American Heritage Cash Reward Mastercard!
An impulse purchase is any purchase you make that you didn’t intend to make or budget for. They are incredibly tempting, especially at this time of year. It’s crucial to revisit the same questions about overspending when it comes to impulse purchases, like whether the item is a want or a need, and how badly you still want the item after 24 hours.
Here are some additional tips you can follow to avoid impulse purchases:
It's totally normal to have a little bit of buyer's remorse after making some purchases. This is an opportunity for you to try and get some (if not all) your money back. Hold onto your receipts (physical or digital) for your transactions, and review store return policies.
Stores may offer extended return windows when it comes to Black Friday and holiday shopping. Or, some outlets may reimburse you with store credit (as opposed to cash). If it would be more beneficial to you, consider selling the product to a friend or through a resource like Facebook Marketplace.
The increase in shopping activity during Black Friday and the holidays also means a greater chance to run into hackers and scams. Hackers know how prominent sales are this time of year, as well as a consumer's desire to shop for loved ones and themselves. Here are some common holiday scams you should look out for:
When shopping online, remember to always look for the lock symbol in the URL bar when completing purchases. And if a deal seems just too good to be true, chances are it more than likely is!
When it comes to Black Friday shopping and holiday sales, remember these simple tips. Sticking within your budget is the most important step you can follow. Your 2026 self will thank you for your smart money management and self-control! You’ll be able to take these practices with you into the new year and beyond.
*Offer valid as of 10/1/25 and available for American Heritage Credit Union Cash Reward cardmembers only. How to earn Cash Back: Earn 3% cash reward bonus for all transactions made between 10/1/25 and 1/31/26. After 1/31/26, the Cash Reward program reverts to 3% Cash Back on Essentials (Gas, Groceries, Pharmacies, Home Improvement Stores), 2% Cash Back on Travel and Dining (Hotels, Airfare, Ride Shares, Restaurants), and 1% Back on Everything Else. Essential merchants defined as gasoline, grocery stores, home improvement, pharmacies, dairy, or meat locker. Travel merchants defined as restaurants, cafes, fast food chains, airlines, ride sharing and hotels. Purchases made through third-party technologies such as P2P or mobile wallets may not receive higher reward depending upon how the technology platform is configured to process the purchase. American Heritage is not responsible for codes used by merchants. See American Heritage Credit Union Cash Reward Program Terms and Conditions for more information about your rewards. We reserve the right to cancel, modify or extend this offer at any time without notice. Membership eligibility required. All credit card accounts subject to approval. Member must be in good standing with a minimum of a $15 deposit in their Primary Share Account. Not a member? Join today.