Let’s face it: the -ber months in the Philippines come with a hefty price tag. September signals the beginning of shopping for gifts, scheduling parties and reunions, and booking holiday getaways. While the festive season is definitely a time to go all out with the “I deserve this” excuse, know that you don’t have to work your finger to the bone just to fund the most expensive season of all.

How do you keep money in your pocket and not start the new year emptyhanded? Here are five unconventional tips for you this season:

Ever heard of the saying, “Everything is 100% off if you don’t buy it”? It’s true in any season, particularly in this “spending” season.

There are going to be mall-wide sales left and right, and you’ll surely be tempted to check out deals. Gift items and more are going to be sold at a fraction of the price anyway, so it’s the perfect time to buy, right?

Wrong. You may be able to save money on a sale event, but it’s also a dangerous place to be if you don’t have these three things: list, budget, and self-control.

If you end up buying things not originally in the plan, then you didn’t really save money, did you?

You might think it’s not very Filipino to decline invitations, because we really value family ties, friendship, and togetherness. But during the holiday season, all kinds of parties and reunions imaginable will try to squeeze their way to your calendar. Accommodating all of them will not only drain your wallet, but also your energy and peace of mind.

Some gatherings may require you to shell out more than what you intend to, and it’s completely ok to not go if it will cost you a lot. If it’s going to be a total inconvenience for you or your family, if it’s going to stretch your budget in ways you didn’t imagine it, then it’s best to politely decline the invitation.

You don’t have to explain yourself lengthily, either.

Seeing your loved ones smile and appreciate the thought of you wrapping a gift feels great. There’s nothing wrong with giving gifts, until your credit card says it’s reaching its limit, and until your basic needs are compromised.

You don’t need to go broke giving gifts. Be creative and resourceful! If you have a skill you may utilize such as cooking, baking, or crafting, so you can produce a gift at a much lower cost, then go for it. While you’re at it, stay away from promising too. Just because you don’t have something to give this season doesn’t mean you can promise the blue from the skies for the next round of gift giving season.

Let your priorities be your priorities whatever season you’re in.

The tendency for most of us is to use our holiday bonus to increase our holiday budget. While this is a wise move, there could be a wiser one: save or invest all of it if you can. If not, a portion of it will do. Believe it or not, this is doing yourself a favor, and giving yourself a gift your future self will thank you for!

By practicing delayed gratification and being wise with your finances, you won’t ever need to ask yourself, “Where did my holiday bonus go?”

It’s been a running joke in many Filipino households that once you step out of the house, the 1,000-peso bill in the morning comes home as coins at night.

You can always go out and celebrate once in a while, but don’t overdo it. A party outside the home will cost you venue rental, minimum consumable order, or corkage fees, not to mention the transportation that may cost an arm and a leg. It’s a season of new experiences and new places to visit anyway, so try to look for a home that can host your party for a change. It can be equally meaningful to spend your day in a familiar place where you will not be forced to pack up after a couple of hours or so.

On peak days, you may also opt to bring your get together at home so you can avoid the holiday traffic and long restaurant queues. You don’t only save money, you also save your very precious time.

Avoid the stress that comes with holiday spending. Be wise in making financial decisions these -ber months!