When it comes to overspending, there's probably no greater risk of blowing your budget than during the two weeks before Christmas.

Credit counselors say even people who manage to stay within budget most of the holiday shopping season — even the entire year — are most at risk for spending too much in the days leading up to Dec. 25.

It's not hard to see why. Retailers are doing everything they can to get consumers to step through their doors and open their pocketbooks. There are the free photos with Santa. The holiday food samples. The special in-store events. The buy-one-get-one deals. The limited time offers.

In the spirit of keeping spending under control, here are some thoughts as you head into the home stretch:

It's not a good deal if you can't afford it • If you're using a credit card to buy items on sale but can't pay your balance off when the bill arrives early next month, you're going to pay interest of 10 percent, 20 percent or even more. Depending on how long it takes you to pay off that debt, you could wind up paying much more for a product than it was actually worth in the first place.

Shift focus to doing instead of spending • Fight the urge to buy and play outside with your children in the snow. Go to a free-admission day at Tracy Aviary, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts or Hogle Zoo. Take your children to check out holiday books or attend a free program or event at the library. Bake with your kids and exchange handmade treats with your family. Enjoy free light displays at Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City or in any of a number of cities along the Wasatch Front. Volunteer as a family at a community service organization. Or just do something nice — anonymously — for a neighbor.

Create a budget for each person on your list • It's not too late to settle on a specific group of people you're buying for and set a limit on how much you're going to spend on each one. A big budget buster is when someone buys you a gift, and you hadn't planned on buying one for them. "Stick to the list," said Kristin Johnson, director of housing for the nonprofit credit-counseling firm Cornerstone Financial Education in Ogden. "Don't buy out of obligation. Sometimes you're going to get a gift [unexpectedly]. Don't feel obligated to reciprocate. Just say, 'Thank you.' "

Consider gift cards • If you have the tendency to spend just a bit more than you had budgeted on each person, opt for gift cards to their favorite stores or restaurants instead.

Leave the credit cards at home • Do all those sales provide just too much temptation to spend? Bring envelopes of cash to spend on designated people on your list. That way, when the money is gone, you have to stop spending.

Watch entertainment costs • Many people tend to go out to dinner more often, see more movies, entertain more at home and go to more parties during the holidays. It all adds up, so beware.

Watch your spending on groceries • Think department stores are tempting this time of year? Grocery stores can be just as enticing. Many families spend hundreds more in December than they do other months of a year. Huge displays at stores are pushing feel-good and high-margin items such as gift sets, cookies, crackers and other baked goods. There also are expensive drinks, such as nonalcoholic sparkling beverages, hot chocolate and eggnog. Be conscious of this, or become a spending victim.

"One of the biggest spending problems during the holidays involves spontaneous, unplanned purchases," said Johnson. "It adds up."

Give gifts from the heart or gifts of your time • The coupon-oriented website SavingsAngel.com advises that instead of something that is purchased, many people would actually prefer gifts such as an hour of help around the house, babysitting services or help with yard work or snow removal. Make up a nice certificate and follow up to make sure the recipient takes advantage of your gift. Include a letter or note describing why they are important to you or your family.

"Most of the time people prefer thoughtful gifts like this over more stuff," said Johnson. "It doesn't cost you a lot of money, but these gifts can be much more meaningful than something you buy."

Talk it out • If you're feeling burdened financially by the holidays, talk to your family as soon as possible, said Alena Johnson, who teaches family finance at Utah State University in Logan and co-directs the Housing and Financial Counseling Program at the university's Family Life Center. "A lot of families have traditions they think they have to keep for gift-giving. But if you talk, you're probably going to discover that other people want to cut back, too."

"Step down" your spending • Johnson teaches the "Step-Down Principle" as a way for consumers to cut back. Here's how the concept works: Instead of cutting something totally out of your budget, find a way to do it more cheaply. For example, don't pay full price to go a movie in the evening, and consider going to a less-expensive matinee, visiting a discount theater or renting from a Redbox kiosk.

"You can keep stepping down your spending," she said. "That way you aren't giving things up altogether."

Drawing names and buying only one family member a gift is a good example of "stepping down" gift-giving.

Start planning for next year • As soon as you can, begin putting away money for the 2012 holidays. This isn't easy, of course. But how nice would it be to have $100, $200 or more set aside by fall next year?

"It's a whole different experience — having money set aside for the holidays before they even begin," said USU's Johnson. "You'll enjoy [them] so much more."

Lesley Mitchell writes One Cheap Chick in daily blog form at blogs.sltrib.com/cheap.

lesley@sltrib.comTwitter: @cheapchickFacebook: Facebook.com/OneCheapChick Le

Lesley's checklist:

Budget • Create one for each person on your gift list. Stick with it.

Shift focus • Avoid temptation by doing other things; if you go out, watch your spending on entertainment and groceries.

Try gift cards • They're a good way to stay within a budget.

Avoid credit cards • Leave home without them.

Communicate • If you can't afford Christmas, talk it out with family.

Plan ahead • Look ahead to next year to keep expectations reasonable and affordable.