The holidays are approaching, and with them comes the opportunity to shop-shop-shop. Whether it’s online or in person, December buying can wreak havoc with a budget for months afterward. Caroline Delbert for Stacker listed five methods to avoid the seasonal tendency to overspend.

1. Unsubscribe from promotional emails; decline to sign up for more

Whenever consumers buy from a store, either virtually or in person, the parent company tries its hardest to enroll them on its promotional email distribution list. Each December store ads can swamp customers, enticing them with purchase suggestions and deals that can be budget busters.

If you’re offered a legitimate discount for joining a retail email list, add your name, buy your gift, enjoy the price break, and unsubscribe immediately.

2. When seeking specific, in-store merchandise, ask

Stores often change their internal layouts (what departments are located where), hoping the unfamiliarity leads shoppers to wander the aisles and therefore encounter more merchandise. When in doubt, ask an employee for the location of a specific item.

3. Set a realistic budget and stay within it

Keep your gift-giving parameters in mind constantly when browsing for gifts. Online shopping is particularly prone to overspending, as retailers entice consumers with pop-up ads, related products, and add-on merchandise.

4. Don’t fall for a false sense of urgency

Those “buy-it-now” deals are almost always designed to shorten your consideration of a item and its impact on what you’re spending. Remember: Today’s hot deal may be replaced by another one — possible even better — tomorrow.

5. Items listed as bargains aren’t necessarily so

Again, merchandise marked as a bargain can be an enticement for an emotionally driven, ill-considered purchase. Remain diligent about competitive pricing and how outlays affect your overall holiday budget.

Read more about other common ways shoppers overspend and how to maximize legitimate discounts at Stacker.