The holidays can be an expensive time for many consumers, particularly those who wait until the last minute to purchase the gifts on their lists. According to CNN, shoppers who make their purchases earlier in the season can find great deals and save money.

After she did her Christmas shopping last year, Meredith Barnhill found herself financially exhausted. "I couldn't enjoy Christmas because I had to worry about debt for the new year," she told the news source.

However, this year, Barnhill set aside $100 a month in a Christmas fund to help pay for her gift items, and is also using coupons and online offers to help save money .in the long run.

Lee Sherman, of the money management website Mint.com, told the news source that customers should limit their credit card usage during the holiday season. He state that the more that an individual uses a credit card while shopping, the harder it will be to keep track of their finances.

According to the Better Business Bureau, those who plan on shopping online should be sure to protect their personal information by reading a website's privacy policies. Additionally, shoppers can enlist secure payment services when they use the web to save online.