🤑 This is an expensive time of year. Here’s how to not overspend

Plus, how to make amends after a fight with your spouse or partner

View this email online This newsletter is brought to you by Life Kit producer Clare Marie Schneider With  the holiday season fast approaching, people will soon be traveling, gathering with loved ones and … shopping. When scrolling or window-shopping for gifts, it can be easy to get tempted by extra purchases here and there. Maybe you’re headed to a big box store to pick out a present for your niece and end up leaving with a new water bottle, book and pair of shoes for yourself.  Or, maybe you go online with the intent of picking out a sweater for your dad but end up getting sucked down a rabbit hole of good deals on winter coats.  This can be an expensive time of year, straining your budget and savings. And often, airline tickets, gas to make the drive home, or that white elephant gift are non-negotiable expenses.  But if you want to cut back on unnecessary spending as you head into the holiday season, here are five tips to help you make more conscientious decisions.    LA Johnson/NPR 📝 Create a "yes" and "no" shopping list. Grab a pen and paper and write down a list of non-essential items that you'll stop buying this season — and continue buying — for a set period of time. It'll help you pinpoint items you tend to overspend on, and be more intentional about what's really worth buying. For example, you might decide not to purchase new holiday decorations and stick with the ones you already have. Or, maybe you choose to cut back on dinners out during November and December.  🙈 Reduce your temptation to shop. In a world of flash sales and ads that follow you from site to site, the temptation to shop is everywhere (especially online). So try to "get a grip on your social media," says sustainable fashion writer Aja Barber. For the holiday season, try unfollowing any social media accounts that persuade you to spend money, including fashion influencers, stylists and clothing brands, says Elysia Berman, who stopped spending money on non-essential items for a whole year. ✂️ Unsubscribe from the email lists of your favorite brands, says Barber. Getting daily or weekly updates about sales and price reductions is not helpful if you’re trying to focus on controlled shopping for the next few months.  ⚠️ Block websites where you tend to impulse shop. Berman did this with some of her top fashion sites. "That way, I wasn't even tempted to browse," she says. 💚 Need it, love it, like it, want it. What if you find something that’s on your no-buy list and you are really tempted to purchase? Financial expert and educator, Tiffany Aliche, says to ask yourself, " 'What are the things that really make me happy? What are the things that really bring me joy?'" To keep those priorities straight, Aliche keeps a sticker on top of her computer that says, "need it, love it, like it, want it." And before hitting that purchase button, she wants to ensure what she's buying is a “love” — that it will bring lasting joy. Over the holidays, it’s easy to get swept up in the “wants” so take a beat before you opt for that sparkly red candle or pair of fuzzy slippers when you’re out shopping.  Newsletter continues after sponsor message Oliver Munday for NPR 5 tips to stop stress-spending. We could all stand to stretch our cash a little further right now. Financial expert Tiffany Aliche offers tips to curb stress-spending and how to save for the future. Read the story.  No, you shouldn't buy it. Why some people are giving up shopping for a year. Let us de-influence you. This guide can help you start a no-buy challenge of your own. The goal is to save money, cut back on overconsumption and be more mindful of wasteful and unsustainable shopping habits. Read the story.  How to spend less money, starting with a budget. Whether you're paying down credit cards or saving for daily necessities, the best place to start is with a budget. Some simple tools can help. Read the story.  Cut back your spending with these tips. As we enter a period of high personal spending, here are 5 tips from past Life Kit experts on how to save money during the holidays and year-round. Listen to the episode.  Quote of the week: How to repair after a fight with your partner  After a big blowup or recurring fight with your partner or spouse, how do you reconnect? Couples therapist Baya Voce says making amends after a conflict can help you and your partner feel more connected and learn from each other. Follow her five-step process to reconnect after a feud.  Follow us on Instagram Follow us for mini versions of our episodes on money, health, relationships and more. Recent posts include a reel on tips for avoiding flight delays, expert advice on gift-giving for (18!) nieces and nephews, and why we need more pep talks in life. Look out for opportunities to share your own advice too.   I want more Life Kit Try a free month of Life Kit+ Support public media while getting expert advice on health, finance, relationships and more with Life Kit+. You'll get sponsor-free listening and even some specially curated playlists of episodes by theme (Master your budget, Organize your life, Move your body, and more).   Check out all the NPR+ benefits available at plus.npr.org and use the code "freemonth" for a 30 day trial of Life Kit+! Explore NPR+ Kiersten Essenpreis for NPR In case you missed it Having good posture doesn't just mean sitting up straight. Does your back hurt after a long day at your desk? Do you wake up with a sore neck every morning? Muscle aches in your body could be a sign you need to improve your posture. This episode, a physical therapist and a biomechanist break down what "good posture" looks like and how you can begin to correct yours. Listen to the episode or read the story.  How to afford food when money is tight. Kevin Curry of Fit Men Cook, an online food community, shares how to build a low-budget cart at the grocery store and other strategies to find low-cost food. Listen to the episode or read the story.  Dear Life Kit: I'm sick of all this unwanted attention. Clinical psychologist Adia Gooden and NPR's It's Been A Minute host, Brittany Luse, answer questions from Dear Life Kit listeners and they share their best advice on unsolicited advice. Listen to the episode.  Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? 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