Christmas Holiday 2014 Shopping, Travel & Saving Tips: 5 Uncommon Ways to Help You Get Through The Season Without Going Broke

Let's face it: It's always a challenge to let the holidays pass without making a dollar splurge here and there, especially when the sweetest of deals come knocking at your doorstep or flashing at your devices' screens. We understand that it could be very tempting indeed to spend those last bucks for one more Christmas treat. After all, who doesn't want presents?

Carry on, because we've collected five rare ways to help you get through the shopping and spending yet to come. This handy guide should somehow prep you for the more inviting deals of the future, so better commit them to memory!

Months of Nothing

Red Rocks Community College professor Danielle Marquis suggested setting two months of one's calendar year as "Months of Nothing," said Bankrate. The idea is an absolute compromise -- all savings earned in those two months would then be diverted to a "Holidays" savings account, which of course, can help you get through the Yuletide season (even for emergencies). It doesn't have to be two consecutive months.

Note that "Months of Nothing" doesn't mean zero cash-out; it means spending only on absolute necessities (think Needs vs Wants). That means choosing regular coffee over that designer-brewed, frosting-crowned drink.

Set Conditions on Presents

The idea of presents may not be totally eliminated, as there are ways to control the financial situation under the mistletoe. Practically, one of them is taking the initiative to set conditions on gift-giving.

Exchange gifts may be limited to family, which means skipping peers and other social groups for now. As Telegraph puts it, it's all about agreement. You can also set a price rule for the exchange gift -- the cheaper may not always be better, but hey, does price really matter?

There are countless ways to limit the cost of presents, such as making the exchange gift for "Children Only" or having a one-time Secret Santa.

Something from Scrap

Bankrate cited online, eco-friendly program RecycleBank.com, which basically allows customers to trade used cellphones, MP3 players, cameras and other devices for points that lead to the purchase of more valuable items (such as gift cards). This way, you're not just making value out of unused items, but you're also taking part in saving the planet!

Waste No More

Everybody wants great food -- but our tummies don't expand forever. This makes it easy to overestimate cooking during the holidays.

Telegraph took note of Love Food Hate Waste, which offers a "Perfect Portion Tool" that suggests how much to cook, the number of expected servings and ways to measure food. If you're hosting the next Christmas party, be sure to check the site out!

A Game of Tickets

According to Review Journal, airlines do not actively assess their rates against demand and availability until three to four months in advance. This translates to overspending when booking flights way too early. The outlet also disproved the notion of cheaper airfare when booking flights at the last minute.

As suggested, prospects may want to adhere to the three- to four-month guideline in order to get peak savings.

Got more tips to share? Sound off in the comments section below! We'd love to hear from you.

Check out MahaloChristmas' take on how to save up for the holidays.