If you've been to Walmart, Costco or another big box retailer, you may have already seen holiday decorations.

It seems like some stores have skipped over Halloween and Thanksgiving and gone straight ahead to Chanukah and Christmas.

Those decorations may get you thinking about gifts for the people you love. If you are thinking ahead, that means you're starting off on the right foot! The people who wait until the last minute to shop for holiday gifts are often the ones who pay the most. Here are a few tips to save money this holiday season.

Save up! You still have some time to save money for holiday gifts! It can be as easy as transferring $50 per week to a savings account, and that's money you can save just by eating out less often, cooking at home instead of ordering takeout or canceling some of those unused subscriptions. Or, you can earn a little bit of extra money by going through your closet and selling a few things that you no longer need.

Make your list... One night this week, pause whatever show you're binging and make a list of all the people you need to buy gifts for. Think back to last year: Were there any people you forgot about? Once you have your list, spend some time browsing the Internet, shopping locally and thinking about their interests, wants and needs. Don't buy anything yet! First, you want to come up with ideas and set a budget. If you need help creating your budget, we're here to help! Request a free consultation with one of our Certified Financial Counselors for one on one guidance.

Do your research. You're about to see a lot of ads for items at "the lowest price of the season!" Don't get lured in by deals that seem too good to pass up without doing some price comparisons. How much is the item normally? Are there loyalty programs or coupons you will be able to use? Does the business you're buying from offer price guarantees? Would getting an off-brand item be less expensive? Spending time on this research will save you a lot of money later this year when it's time to buy.

Consider gifting an experience. Maybe, instead of spending $100 on a hot new item for your loved one, you could spend $75 to do something fun together! A lot of companies are encouraging people to give experiences, like a class or workshop, tickets to a show or something else that will create positive memories. Plus, getting tickets to an experience gives you both something to look forward to in the dreary days of January and February.

Go homemade! Are you talented in some way? If you can crochet a scarf, make jewelry, paint or build something, bake or do another craft, the people you love may really appreciate something you spent time and energy creating. Plus, these gifts can be less expensive than buying something in a store.

We'll be making our lists and checking them twice this holiday season — but rest assured, our members are always on our "Good List"! In fact, we'll have several rewards for you to take advantage of throughout the holidays. Stay tuned for our 80th Anniversary Member Appreciation Celebration beginning next month.