Expert advice to rein in holiday costs [Video]

(InvestigateTV) — According to a new Bankrate survey, 28% of holiday shoppers are already stressed about the cost of holiday shopping. 

Ted Rossman with Bankrate said this is the biggest reason to start early. He said half of holiday shoppers are planning to make purchases before the end of the month.

“Even if you’re not ready to start buying, at the very least you can start to sketch out who you’re buying for, how much you want to spend.” he suggested. “Take stock of your unused gift cards for example. Maybe you can repurpose those for holiday gifts, setting money aside from every paycheck is a smart strategy that can help you avoid credit card debt.”

Rossman said most consumers have five or six paychecks left between now and the end of the year. If they save $150 from each, that adds up to $900, which nearly matches what the National Retail Federationsaid the average holiday shopper …