This is the season for giving, for spending time with loved ones, and for celebrating the birth of our Savior. But often it can turn into the season for over-spending, for becoming materialistic and for getting sucked into the rush of holiday tasks. Here are five traps to avoid getting into this holiday season.

Trap #1: The Refund Anticipation Loan

If you’re tight on cash this holiday season you may be tempted to look for money in unusual places. One of those places could be a Refund Anticipation Loan. These are loans based on what you expect to get back from the government after filing your taxes next year. It may seem like a good idea to get the cash around Christmastime when you actually need it, but these loans often come with high fees and plenty of interest. Avoid falling in this trap and steer away from Refund Anticipation Loans.

Trap #2: No Interest for a Year

Lots of stores may be offering credit cards that let you buy your Christmas presents without having to pay interest for a few months or even years. Avoid the “no interest” trap this holiday season because you’ll end up putting yourself in a bad position when it comes time to pay up. And if you don’t pay the balance in full before your special offer ends, you’ll likely be stuck with huge interest fees.

Trap #3: Gifts for Everyone!

You may be tempted to buy anyone and everyone a gift this Christmas. From co-workers to hair stylists, everyone ends up on your gift list. Scale back this year and try to spend less. People will understand if you don’t buy them a gift– they may even be glad because they won’t feel pressure to return the favor.

Trap #4: Paying with Credit

Whether you’ve started saving for Christmas gifts or not, it’s definitely not too late to commit to paying cash for presents this year. Don’t use your credit cards as a crutch to get you through Christmas. If you can’t pay for a present with cash– don’t buy it. No gifts are worth going into debt for.

Trap #5: I Want That

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the commercialism and materialism of Christmas. After all, that’s what corporations spend millions of dollars on each year. Fight that tendency and focus on what the holidays are all about– family, friends and faith. Make this the Christmas that you give more than you’ve ever given in terms of serving and loving others.