By Robert Johnson
Managing editor

The day after Halloween you wander into a store to just to “pick up a few things,” and suddenly the sounds from the store’s PA system send a chill up your spine. Bing Crosby singing “Winter Wonderland” tells you that Christmas is a mere 55 days away.

The holiday season can be a budget buster for many families. Expenses seem to soar during the 12th month as people overspend on everything from the extra food in the house to more postage to send cards to, of course, gifts for the family.  According to BIGresearch, an Ohio-based consumer research firm, Americans will open their wallets to the tune of nearly $800 per person during the holiday season. If you’re on a tight budget — ouch.

With so much demand on our pocketbooks in December, it is no wonder that January is one of the busiest months for Army Emergency Relief. Soldiers overspend for the holidays and then come up short when January rolls in.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

With a little planning, you can avoid the holiday cash blues — even as late in the year as now. There are plenty of Web sites to help guide you through saving money during the holidays. Two sites, www.doughroller. net and www.thesimpledollar.com, are great for helping you keep more money in your wallet … regardless of the time of year. For holiday ideas, try www.betterbudgeting.com for ways to make Christmas special without a lot of cash. Regardless of what source you turn to, there are a few basics that transcends

First, set a budget and stick to it. If you allocate $200 for gifts and suddenly find out that Aunt Myrtle May is sending you something for the first time ever, don’t panic and rush out to get auntie something that will doom your finances.

The same is true for your grocery bill. Set a budget and hold to it. Fight the urge to have every possible kind of cookie and treat in your house for the holidays. Passing up on the sugarplums will not only save your wallet, but your waistline will probably thank you as well.

Watch out for the impulse buying.  It’s almost too easy to see a “bargain” you can’t live without. Even when you are saving 50 percent, you still are paying something. No doubt you should watch for bargains, but it’s not much of a deal if you really don’t need it.

The best advice is plan ahead. Start saving now to cover those extra holiday expenses may sound like dumb idea, but putting a mere $10 a week aside now would give you an extra $500 come next November. And who couldn’t use an extra few Benjamins this time of year?

The last bit of advice isn’t from any Web site or Army Emergency Relief group, but from me. Remember, the holidays aren’t just about how much we spend or what we get in material goods, but how we reflect on our lives and how we treat each other. Creating great memories for Christmas doesn’t require a lot of cash, just some imagination, a heart and a sense of good will towards all. Think how you can make your holiday season special  — then do it — without breaking your piggy bank.

You’ll thank me in January.