Credit: MGN. The holiday season is here but that doesn’t mean you have to go overboard on spending! It’s easy to get carried away by the bright lights and sale signs, but sticking to a budget is an important step to stay in control. NerdWallet says to follow the 50-30-20 rule: 50% of your take-home pay goes toward needs, 30% goes toward wants and 20% goes to savings. Next, make a list and check it twice. Yes, factor in gifts, but don’t forget decorations like a tree, wreaths, even cards, postage and wrapping paper. Every time you buy something, write it down. “It’s really all about making sure you can minimize your debt that you accrue because it’s very stressful for people when you put spending on credit cards and you’re unable to pay it off into the new year, and that can really linger,” said Kimberly Palmer with NerdWallet. Once you buy what you need, consider unsubscribing to emails so you’re not tempted to buy more. If you want to cut down on the number of gifts you buy, ask relatives or your friend group to do a “Secret Santa” instead.