November is right around the corner … have you made your holiday season travel plans yet? If not, you better get to it. The earlier you make your arrangements the less stress you’ll experience later and the more money you will save.

Speaking of saving money, here are 10 money-saving tips for easier holiday travel.

1. Schedule Ahead of Time
You should always schedule your trip ahead of time. Plan the exact day you plan to depart, as well as the day you plan to make your return trip. The longer it takes you to reach your destination, the more likely you are to overspend your planned budget. Make as few stops as possible to help prevent this from happening.

2. Traveling by Plane
If you are traveling by plane, be sure to take advantage of low cost airfare and hotel packages by planning early. If you make your reservations ahead of time, you can take advantage of the rapidly decreasing early bird specials many airlines offer.

Also, if you purchase an airfare/hotel package, you can get discount rates. It is important to remember that a fee may be assessed if the reservations are changed or canceled.

3. Do You Have Frequent Flyer Miles?
Use them to reduce your travel costs.

4. Car Rentals
If you are renting a car for your holiday travel, you can still find great deals. Shop over the internet, and make your reservation early. You should always avoid renting a car near the airport. The rates are often higher, plus extra surcharges can apply at car rental agencies near the airport.

5. Use Public Transportation
If you are visiting a big city during the holidays, you can avoid car rental costs all together. Most big cities have public transportation available, such as buses or subways. Public transportation will save you a ton of money, as opposed to renting a vehicle, and you can usually get all around many cities using public transportation.

6. Take Care of Your Vehicle
If you are going to use your own vehicle for your holiday trip, you should make sure the tires are properly inflated ahead of time. If the tires are not properly inflated, you will use more fuel on your trip, and wear out the tread on your tires more quickly. You should also make sure your engine is well-tuned to make for an easier trip. Saving gas is saving money; and saving money makes for easier, less stressful holiday travel.

7. Bring Your Own Food
When you can, bring your own food for during the travel time. That way you’ll not only avoid the high costs of restaurants at the airport or along the highway, you’ll more likely eat healthier. You can also reduce travel time this way … no lounging around looking at a menu and waiting to be served!

8. Time Your Restaurant Visits
If you do dine out during your holiday trip, do it during the week. Menu prices are often more expensive on the weekend. And if you dine before 4pm, in most places you can receive the lunch rate. The food is often the same as it is for dinner, but the lunch portions are a little smaller … and cost less.

9. Visit Visitor Centers
Even when you are traveling back to your home town, take advantage of visitor centers. You can often find great restaurant coupons there, as well as discount coupons for inexpensive holiday activities. Visitor centers can really make holiday travel easier, and save you a buck or two, as well.

10. Bank At Your Own Bank
If you didn’t bring enough cash on your trip and have to stop at an ATM, make sure it is from a branch of your own bank. Now is not the time to rack up silly “out of network” banking fees.

Holiday travel can be expensive and stressful, but following these 10 tips can reduce the stress, along with the expenses.

Rising gas prices. Increased travel costs. Down Economy.

So, how’s your holiday budget doing?

Yeah, times are tight and many people are suffering, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your holiday cheer. Here are some tips for making the most of your holiday budget … regardless of its size.

Assess Your Holiday Spending
Take a look at what you spent last year, including

• Gifts
• Cards
• Wrapping paper & supplies
• Postage and shipping
• Travel

This will give you a starting point. Will your budget handle more of the same? Or do you need to reduce your costs this year?

Trim Your Expenses
Now look at the list you created. Are there things you don’t really need to spend money on this year? Maybe you have left over wrapping paper. Maybe you can consolidate your shipping and reduce the postage costs. Be creative in how you do your first round of reductions.

Make a List & Check It Twice
Who did you buy gifts for last year? Do all of them need gifts from you this year? Can you tone down the amount you spend on gifts for some or all of the people on your list. Create budget … for each person on your list … and stick to it. Sometimes, knowing the maximum you’re willing to spend on a gift for someone can trigger creativity that inspires you to give a better gift at a lesser cost!

Be Frugal and Creative
There are lots of ways to give more meaningful gifts at a reduced cost. Here are some ideas:

• Create a memory scrapbook for someone dear … think “Baby’s First Christmas” for Mom or “My Favorite Moments” for Dad
• Bake cookies or some other favorite recipe … one year a neighbor gave me flan! I’ve even baked home-made biscotti and received heartfelt thanks for them.
• Create gift baskets … I’ve written about this before, but you can create some amazingly wonderful gift baskets for little cost when you fill them with interesting items you’ve found at dollar stores, Big Lots and, yes, thrift stores.

Be Smart About Travel
Don’t ship presents if you can deliver them yourself. Host more parties instead of traveling to them. When you go shopping, be smart about the route you take and be efficient … get all the things you need in fewer trips.

And, if you host parties … don’t do all the work yourself. Make it a potluck and reduce the work and costs all around.

Keep An Eye Out for Sales
The oldest trick in the book is to never buy at full price. In fact, in an earlier post I recommended buying your Christmas gifts all year long … that way you never have to pay full price.

Shop Online
Shopping online, if you are wise about it, can actually save you money in several ways: no travel costs, reduced product costs and sometimes even free shipping!

So, if you have a tighter budget this year compared to last, don’t worry. The tips and advice above should help you keep that holiday spirit.