The week before Christmas is crunch time for holiday shopping.
In fact, it’s estimated that 157.2 million consumers plan to shop on Super Saturday, or the Saturday before Christmas, according to new data from the National Retail Federation — an increase from 141.9 million Super Saturday shoppers last year.
If you’re also doing your last-minute shopping this weekend, here are the three strategies I’m using to avoid overspending.
1. Setting a budget per person
I don’t know about you, but it’s easy for me to lose track of everyone I need to shop for — between secret Santa exchanges with my friends, white elephants at work and nieces and nephews, the list is long.
To stay organized, I write down every person I’m shopping for and set a budget for each. I also note if something has a spending limit, like the $15 gift exchange at work, for example.
To see how your holiday spending fits into your overall December spending, adding these expenses to a budgeting app with your other costs can help you keep track of everything. With Monarch, you can sync all your accounts and transactions in one place. There’s a one-week free trial to test it out.
Monarch
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Cost
$8.33/month (billed $99.99 annually); $14.99/month (billed monthly) – get 50% off your first year with code CNBC50
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Free trial
7-day free trial is available before subscribing
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Standout features
Net worth tracker, investment portfolio tracking, goal creation and progress tracking, budgeting and expense tracking
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Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can modify
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Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards, as well as IRAs, 401(k)s, mortgages and loans
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Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android); web version also offered
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Security features
Utilizes industry-leading security practices, according to Monarch’s website
Pros
- Easy-to-navigate money-tracking dashboard, including a net-worth tracker
- Easily syncs to your bank, credit cards and other financial accounts
- Users can add collaborators for free
- Seven-day free trial
Cons
- Subscription is pricier than competitors
- Recommendations in the “advice” tab are generic
Another app I like, especially during this busy shopping season, is Pocketguard because it will alert you of any fees, suspicious activity or budget overspending. Users receive a weekly summary of their spending, too. You can try it free for seven days.
PocketGuard
Information about PocketGuard has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by PocketGuard prior to publication.
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Cost
Basic PocketGuard plan is free, while PocketGuard Premium subscription is $12.99 per month or $74.99 annually. Lifetime membership offer available at a reduced rate.
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Standout features
In My Pocket feature uses your income, recurring expenses and savings goals to determine how much you have for everyday spending.
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Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can customize
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Links to accounts
Yes, users can connect accounts through Plaid and Finicity to import data automatically or manually add cash accounts for tracking
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Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
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Security features
PocketGuard utilizes bank-level encryption, PINs and biometrics like Touch ID and Face ID
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Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Pros
- Includes bill payment tracker and bill negotiation service
- Lifetime membership option offers additional savings
- A+ from Better Business Bureau
Cons
- Basic free plan only allows two budget categories
- Transactions may be categorized incorrectly
2. Using browser extensions to find coupons and discounts
Regretting not catching the big deals during Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Don’t worry — the holiday sales season usually extends well beyond those weekends. Many stores continue to offer discounts throughout December, especially as they try to clear out inventory in the home stretch before Christmas.
The key is to shop around and compare prices across different retailers to find the best deals. I like to do that by using browser extensions like Rakuten and Honey. These tools automatically search for and apply coupon codes at checkout, helping you get extra dollars off without the hassle of hunting down deals yourself. Plus, Rakuten even gives you cash back on qualifying purchases, so you earn money back while you shop.
Rakuten
Information about Rakuten has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the company prior to publication.
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Cost
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Cash back
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Coupon codes
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Mobile app
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Works with in-store purchases
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Welcome bonus
New users can earn a $10 bonus after spending $25 on purchases made in your first 90 days. You also may be able to earn an even larger bonus if you’re referred by a friend.
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How to redeem your savings
Rewards are issued quarterly.
Pros
- You can earn American Express Membership Rewards Points or Bilt Rewards instead of cash back
- New users can earn a welcome bonus or referral bonus
- Offers at over 3,500 online stores
- You can activate savings, then shop and save on in-store purchases
Cons
- Cash back is awarded quarterly
- Typically not valid with Amazon purchases
PayPal Honey
Information about Honey has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the company prior to publication.
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Cost
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Cash back
Yes, in the form of PayPal Rewards
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Coupon codes
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Price comparison
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Mobile app
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Works with in-store purchases
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Welcome bonus
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How to redeem your savings
Redeem for e-gift cards, shopping credits, cash back or donations.
Pros
- Offers at over 30,000 participating merchants
- In-depth Droplist for price tracking and notifications
- Has Honey Tips which provide insights like price changes, coupon success rates and other helpful info
Cons
- Cash back redemption requires a valid PayPal account
- You can’t use the app to save in-store
- Rewards expire if you don’t earn 10 points within each consecutive 365-day period
3. Maximizing rewards by shopping through credit card portals
If you’re using a credit card to shop this holiday season, it’s worth checking whether your card offers a dedicated shopping portal. These portals act as an extra rewards layer, giving you bonus cash back, points or miles when you make purchases through their site rather than directly at the retailer.
For example, Chase Offers is available to nearly all Chase cardholders and provides access to special deals and cash back ranging from 5% up to 30% at participating retailers when shopping through their portal. These offers can stack on top of regular sales and make your last-minute holiday shopping more rewarding.
Earn valuable welcome bonuses with a Chase card
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
American Express also has its own version called Amex Offers, which is available to almost all Amex cardholders. It lets you earn statement credits, bonus points or cash back by shopping at select stores through their platform.
To use these programs, simply log in to your credit card account online and find the links to Chase Offers or Amex Offers. From there, browse or search for the stores you want to shop at, click through the portal to the retailer’s website and complete your purchase as usual. Your bonus rewards will then be automatically added to your account.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
