The Great Recession caused holiday spending to dwindle, but in recent years the amount of money Americans are spending on gifts for the holidays has only increased. According to the American Research Group, holiday spending in 2014 was $861 per family, up 8% from 2013. With the holidays just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about what you're going to buy and how much you're going to spend. Below are eight ways you can maximize your holiday budget this season.

Before you can maximize your holiday budget, you need to set a limit on what you can comfortably afford to spend. Try your best not to rely on credit cards, as credit counseling agencies see a 25% increase in those seeking help in January and February, mostly due to overspending over the holidays. Decide in advance what you can spend and stick to your pre-set budget to avoid taking on excess debt.

If you can't afford to spend as much as you'd like, consider cutting cable for the time being, reducing the amount you spend on groceries or picking up a part-time seasonal job to earn some extra cash. If you can cut $200 from your monthly expenses and make an additional $400 in income, that could be your entire holiday budget in just one month.

An excellent way to get the most bang for your buck is only to buy sale items and go to discount stores. If you refuse to pay full price for any Christmas gifts or goodies, you could very easily save hundreds of dollars over the season. If Black Friday isn't your thing, try shopping Cyber Monday where you can get fantastic deals all online.

Most likely, you're not the only one who wants to save a little money this Christmas. If you have a large family or are planning on purchasing gifts for your coworkers, suggest a Secret Santa where everyone draws a name and buys a gift for that person. You can set a spending limit of $20 to make sure you don't spend more than necessary.

Everyone loves homemade goodies, especially teachers and coworkers. Rather than spending hundreds on gifts ($10 gifts for five different teachers and ten different colleagues can add up), spend an afternoon baking bread, cookies, muffins and other holiday treats.

Americans plan on spending an average of $271 per child on Christmas. If you have two children, that's more than $500. If you have four, you're easily spending a month's worth of rent on Christmas gifts for your kids. One idea is to get one main gift for the kids to share and a few other smaller ones. Or, you can adopt the simple gift-giving philosophy: each child gets four gifts—a want, a need, a wear and a read.

Couples can opt to partake in a fun (and free) experience with their partners rather than purchasing a traditional gift. Most likely, your partner will remember and appreciate the experience more than a gift. Ideas include having a romantic date night in while watching a holiday movie, driving through your favorite neighborhoods looking at lights, cooking a meal together, going hiking, or planning a relaxing day at home. You can also give your kids experiences instead of gifts.

Instead of aimlessly wandering malls and shops, figure out what you're going to purchase before leaving your house. This way, you're not tempted to overspend or buy things you don't need. We've all thrown in an item or two (or ten) for ourselves when holiday shopping, but this is, unfortunately, the easiest way to go over budget.

It's just too easy to overspend during the holidays. To avoid that hefty credit card bill come January, shop with a purpose, a plan and a fixed budget. Know who you're going to buy for, avoid impulse shopping and shop the sales. The holidays will only wreck your budget if you let them.