START NOW! SAVING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

***FOUR TIPS ON SAVING FOR THE HOLIDAYS***

This might sound premature, but it's NOT too early to start saving for the holidays. And if you're feeling the pinch like most people, you should start saving NOW. Here are four tips to make sure you have enough cash this holiday season . . .

#1.) PAY DOWN YOUR CREDIT CARDS. If you can pay a little bit extra on your credit cards in the next few months, DO IT. It's easy to overspend during the holidays, so it's a good idea to plan ahead and give yourself some breathing room.

#2.) CREATE A SPENDING PLAN. You can't decide how much to set aside until you know how much you're going to SPEND. So make your list as early as possible this year and figure out EXACTLY how much money you'll need.

#3.) MAKE SOME EXTRA CASH. Sell stuff you don't want or need on sites like EBAY and CRAIGSLIST. You probably don't have enough junk lying around to make a CAREER out of it . . . but you could make a few hundred bucks.

#4.) FORCE YOURSELF TO SAVE. It might feel impossible, but if you can make a few tiny cuts in your budget, you'll have extra funds for the holiday season . . .

--Make your morning coffee at home . . . or bring a packed lunch to work twice a week. Skipping the gourmet coffee and fast food can mean a few extra hundred dollars . . . AND your waistline will be ready for all those big holiday meals. (iVillage.com)