December can be a costly month. Seasonal gift giving, to your family and colleagues, as well as end of year vacation plans can all add up. These are 8 of the best tips to help you save money during the holidays. This article was submitted by a Guest Contributor. 1. Budget early The best way to budget for a costly December is to do it early. Some people even include these costs at the beginning of their yearly budget – giving them time to save for it. For example, if you intend to spend $3,000 on year-end vacation, if you start in January, this means you only need to set aside about $272 every month until November. 2. Take advantage of Black Friday/ 11-11 sale  Black friday weekend and the 11-11 sale are great times to get gifts. They happen right before the December period so you can get your christmas shopping done early, and economically. But warning! Big sales can lead to over-spending....