Do you have a tendency to overspend during the holiday season? Do the costs just keep piling up to the point where you have to finance some of that holiday spending with credit cards, paying them off during the New Year? Are you sick and tired of overspending and being stuck with credit card debt? Don’t worry. There are things you can do this holiday season to help you save a bundle!

Follow these three tips if you want to cut down on credit card spending over the holidays this year, and avoid starting the New Year with new credit card debt to worry about:

1. Stay home.

The holidays are a time for family, but that doesn’t always have to mean extended family. Yes, it’s nice when everyone can get together, but if that means hauling the family across the country for an expensive trip you can’t afford then where’s the good in that? You’ll rack up your credit card bill and end up resenting the outing that’s supposed to bring family closer together.

Consider staying at home this year with your partner and children (or other local family members and friends). It might be a good time to start a new family tradition, and one that will save you money not only now but every year. That’s not to say you should avoid visiting more distant family altogether. Perhaps set up an outing at a different time of the year where the expense of the trip isn’t added to a mountain of other holiday expenses all at once. If you really can’t avoid the big holiday trip, consider saving for it months ahead of time (at least it’s something you can plan for next year).

2. Downsize.

If you’re the type of person who feels like they have to buy amazing gifts for everyone they know, you’re also probably prone to overspending during the holidays. Consider downsizing. For example, you might decrease the amount you’ll spend on each gift (think of it this way — you’ll be forced to put more thought into them, and that’s what’s supposed to really matter). Or maybe your family could consider a Pollyanna where everyone draws a name and buys a gift for one other person instead of everyone buying for everyone else.

Downsizing in one area (having a less extravagant holiday party for example) might even enable you to spend a bit more in other areas without going over budget. For instance, you might still be able to afford that holiday travel after all.

3. Shop with cash.

The easiest way to stop spending too much around the holidays and stop racking up credit card debt is to leave the credit cards at home. Make a list of what you need — gifts, decorations, food, etc. Then figure out approximately how much those things will cost and take cash with you.

You’ll be forced to stick to your budget that way, and you won’t make impulse buys. If you see something you want to buy but it’s not on your list, you’ll have time to think it over as you go home first to pick up more cash or your credit card. In other words, you’ll have time to really mull over the decision before figuring out if something is worth going into debt over.

Don’t think of holiday credit card debt as inevitable. It’s not. Even if some of the changes might not be immediately popular with family members, when it comes down to it spending time together doesn’t have to be overly impacted by how much money is spent. And when people realise after the fact that they suddenly have more money in the New Year minus all of those credit card bills, who knows? You may even have a few converts on your hands.