NASHVILLE, Tenn. — ‘Tis the season for holiday shopping! But that doesn’t mean you have to go over budget decking the halls, spreading holiday cheer and buying gifts under the tree.

On Friday, Nov. 21,  Melissa Cohen, lecturer in the Department of Economics and Finance in the Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University, appeared on the “MTSU on 2” segment from the studios of WKRN-TV News 2, the ABC affiliate in Nashville, to offer tips on not going over budget this holiday season and even ways to save money.

Watch the full segment with host Stephanie Langston below.

“Start with a list and a dollar amount for each person and stick to it. That’ll help avoid impulse purchases and overspending,” Cohen said.

Cohen also recommends starting to watch prices now on big-ticket items and even smaller things to get the best deals online and in-store.

“Search online for promotional codes, sign up for retailer reward programs and watch for coupons in your inbox,” she explained. “You can search online for the lowest prices using Google Shopping, and some apps like Rakuten will give you money back for shopping online.”

Cohen also said it’s important to look at your list and determine if there are ways to combine gifts.

“You could buy packages or family gifts like memberships to local attractions, like the Nashville Zoo, the Adventure Science Center, Cheekwood, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Skyzone or Urban Air,” she said.

She said the holiday gift-giving season is a great time to cash in credit card points, loyalty points and more to help keep cash in your wallet during this busy and often expensive time of year.

Cohen also suggests giving simple gifts, such as handwritten notes, offering a service, or making your own gift basket, to make the gift more meaningful.

“Remember the holidays should be a time to spend with your loved ones, not go into debt buying things,” she said.

To learn more about the undergraduate programs offered in the MTSU Department of Economics and Finance in the Jones College of Business, visit https://jones.mtsu.edu/.

—   DeAnn Hays (deann.hays@mtsu.edu)