The holidays bring plenty of fun, food and family gatherings. But they can also bring financial stress. Fortunately, you can avoid the seasonal money crunch by creating a Christmas budget early and shopping all year long, rather than trying to cram all your purchases into the few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

First, you’ll want to create a holiday budget that is comprehensive enough to include all the ways you spend money during the Christmas season, including holiday preparations and other purchases that aren’t for gift giving. Then follow these tips to help you stick to your budget and avoid the holiday crunch.

1. Start early. For some people, December 26 marks the beginning of their holiday shopping for the next year. Many of us don’t think about Christmas that early, but this is a great time to take advantage of those after Christmas sales to make purchases of holiday stables like ornaments, gift-wrap, and party supplies.

2. Save a little every month. The easiest way to make sure you don’t overextend your finances during the holidays is to create a Christmas savings account that will help you reach your holiday budget goal. Many banks and credit unions offer savings programs just for the holidays, and can help you set up a program to automatically deduct, say, $25 or $50 from your paycheck or checking account and deposit it in your Christmas fund.

3. Shop for Christmas all year. Create a master shopping list with gift ideas for everyone on your gift list and keep it in your wallet or purse all year. That way you’ll be able to refer to it when you spot a good sale.

4. Comparison shop online. Whether you’re shopping mid-season or during the Christmas rush, you can use the web to help you find great deals. Use a comparison shopping site such as Shopping.com or iBestPriceSearch.com to find the best prices, and search for coupons to save even more.

5. Create homemade gifts. You can save money by baking goodies or making gifts for friends or relatives who will appreciate such a personal gift. Many people really don’t need or want more “things,” but would love a personally crafted gift, or the offer to help them do yard work, run errands or do household chores.

By following these simple tips, you should be able to stay within your budget and have a financially stress-free holiday.