Many companies featured on Money advertise with us. Opinions are our own, but compensation and
in-depth research may determine where and how companies appear. Learn more about how we make money.

In the early 1950s, Hilton oversees construction on the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The now-legendary hotel is most famous as the home of the Golden Globe Awards.
In the early 1950s, Hilton oversees construction on the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The now-legendary hotel is most famous as the home of the Golden Globe Awards.
Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

A jump in airfares is just one of the ways this holiday season can carve a hole in your wallet.

With airlines cutting back on seats, Turkey Day fares in late September were 8.2% costlier than a year earlier, reports CheapAir.com. And that price differential could hit 20% by November. Use these travel, shopping, and giving strategies, then, to make it through 2013 with more cash left over.

More holiday tips

Fly a day less traveled. Save a bundle by avoiding the standard Wednesday-to-Sunday rush, says CheapAir CEO Jeff Klee. A Monday return, for example, cuts $90 from the $593 average domestic fare.

Get a delayed discount. Use the free deal-alert web app Hukkster to bookmark each gift you buy, and you'll be notified if the store cuts the price. Then ask for cash back. Most national retailers offer 15- or 30-day price adjustments, says co-founder Erica Bell.

Magnify your charity. Give more, painlessly, by adding a matching gift from your employer. At least $10 billion in workplace matches go unclaimed annually, though 65% of big companies offer them. Yours doesn't? Find givers who do at matchingdonations.org.