With kids and parties and more, the holidays can get costly.  All the new video games, tech items and products come out in December, and travel is at a high, so money can come up short. Here are some great tips from Today.com on how to keep your head above water through the holidays.

  1. Prepare a spending plan
  2. Search online for coupons and free shipping (try this app) http://snipsnap.it/
  3. Get social (deals through Twitter and Facebook)
  4. Use your rewards (the ones you've been racking up on your credit card
  5. Start early (best bargains are earlier in the day)
  6. Use cash (only shop with the cash you put in an envelope)
  7. Shrink stress (wind down after a long shopping day with a bath...ahhhh)