Call it the ginger that makes the cookie recipe snap. Too much can leave a very bad taste, however. Practicing restraint may be easier than you think with a few adjustments to your usual habits. Watch yourself closely on the Internet, where novelty and impulse form a more potent mixture than eggnog. Pay with cash or a check.
Studies show shoppers who do are far more cautious and likely to stick to a plan.
Make a plan. Have a written budget for gifts and entertaining. Then stick to it. And remember the original reason for these annual celebrations. Stick Post-It notes on your credit cards to indicate the interest rate charged on each card.