Every year, we spend countless hours and loads of money on finding that perfect gift for everyone on our list. Some say there is a trick to tackling this holiday shopping beast.

By using online resources, marking your calendar for those post-Thanksgiving sales and doing a little financial planning, you can take on this year’s holiday shopping with ease.

Your first task should be to decide how much money in all you are able or willing to spend. Try and designate a certain amount for each person you want to shop for, so that you can keep a reasonable price range.

From there, try to get an idea of what type of items you want to search for. Another suggestion is to keep your shopping money separate from your everyday spending money to avoid over-spending.

When it comes to how you spend, be careful when using credit cards. According to Kiplinger, try to pay with cash, so when you run out of money, you run out. If a credit card is needed, try to receive cash-back rewards and look for low interest rates.

Another option for paying for items is to set them aside on layaway so you can gradually pay off the item with small, consistent payments instead of paying in full.

Kiplinger also suggests having a plan for paying off your bills. 

Timing your shopping is a necessity.

Make sure you know when to shop because timing is everything when it comes to the best deals and bargains.

You can never start searching for that special gift too early, especially when it comes to high-demand products or this year’s must-haves. If possible, get your easy gifts out of the way early.

A key shopping time for deals is two weeks prior to Christmas.

Look out for coupons and codes for extra savings. Websites such as retailmenot.com and currentcodes.com help you find promotion and coupon deals for online retailers and products.

Other websites like savycircle.com, shopstyle.com and shopittome.com help find current or upcoming deals. You can even sign up to receive email notifications when certain items go on sale.

So, take a deep breath and channel your inner shopping guru.

Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year, but shopping can damper your holiday spirit if you are not prepared.

By applying these simple tips, you can have a stress-free shopping experience. Grab that list and get busy because Christmas is just around the corner!