My friends and I joke that holiday shopping is more about buying fabulous presents for ourselves than buying for others. Sure, we set out with lists and budgets, but being so deep in the holiday sales makes it easy to stray.

Recession or no recession, impulse purchases are the bane of the financially frugal, especially when sleigh bells start jingling.

Impulse purchases represent what you want, while your shopping list or your budget represents what you need. Even when you budget your groceries for just a few items, extras manage to sneak into the cart.

To get avoid impulse-shopping, you must trick yourself. Here are 10 easy tactics:

1. The 10-minute rule – One of many great family budgeting tools. When you feel the urge to buy something that you weren’t intending to buy, think about it for 10 minutes before placing it in your shopping cart – if you don’t have 10 minutes to spare, put the item back.
2. The limit – Set an amount you will allow for an impulse purchase – whether it is $10 or $50 – and don’t even consider something above that limit.
3. The list – Keep a small note card in your purse or wallet. When you find an item that you want, but haven’t budgeted for, write it down. Now, wait 30 days. If it is still available and you have budgeted for it at that time, treat yourself. They key here is to save for goals, a method of debt management, removing the thrill of buying something on the spot. You only get one item on your list at a time.
4. Sales – Only buy a sale item if you would have paid the full price. If not, it’s not really a good deal.
5. Leave the plastic at home – If you are limited to just enough cash to get you through your budgeted shopping list, you won’t go overboard.
6. Don’t shop for the sake of shopping – How often do you go shopping “just to look” and end up buying something? You know yourself, so avoid those “danger” places altogether (mine is Target).
7. Shop in a bad mood – I find that I buy less when I’m not feeling tip-top. When I feel and look great, I want to celebrate by showering myself with purchases. Plus, I’ll think that everything I try on looks fabulous! My advice: shop frumpy and grumpy.
8. Get offline – Unsubscribe from mailing lists and don’t keep your credit-card information saved on retail sites. This will make purchasing a chore. Again, it’s all about taking the ease and thrill out of impulse buying.
9. Inspire yourself – Use something visual to remind you not to impulse-spend. For example, put a sticky note with your savings goal or a warning (“Danger: Do Not Use!”) on your credit or debit cards. Seeing that note every time you open your wallet will help you respect the budget.
10. Wear uncomfortable footwear when shopping – If shopping is physically painful, you will just want to get in and get out ; no time for impulse-spending.

The holidays are when most people rack up debt they’ll be paying off the rest of the year. Nobody wants to start the New Year with credit-card payments looming – avoiding impulse spending is just one way to survive the holidays, debt free.

Remember, the holidays will still be full of cheer if you spend less money than last year.