MUNCIE, Ind. -- Never go shopping for Christmas presents on an empty stomach, warns a Ball State University financial analyst.

Impulse buying, lack of planning and even shopping while hungry leads to financial problems for millions of American each year, says John Fitzgerald, associate dean of the College of Business.

Consumers can avoid or alleviate the credit crunch by millions of Americans from excess spending by considering a few simple methods, including:

• Establish a budget and stick with it.

• Take cash or a credit card with a low limit.

• Plan purchases and determine who needs what.

• Seek the best buys by being an informed shopper who checks all the advertisements.

• Buy early and during the off seasons to get the best deals.

"When you are hungry all you think about is getting the shopping done so you can eat," Fitzgerald said. "You aren’t rational. You aren’t thinking clearly. So, you just grab an item for your sister without thinking if it is the right gift or how much it costs."

At this point we just reach for the credit card without thinking. Or, we write a check and don’t realize the present is the wrong color, size or even the incorrect item, he said.

Millions of Americans will rush to shopping centers in coming weeks, resulting in holiday spending totals reaching $162 billion in 1998, or about 3.8 percent higher than last year, predicts the National Retail Association.

The American Express retail marketing group’s recent survey found that shoppers plan to spend an average of $1,233 this holiday season, a jump of six percent over 1996.

Fitzgerald believes that impulse buying is the worst habit for any consumer.

"Say there is a $250 umbrella stand, but it is really unique," Fitzgerald said. "Ask yourself if you really can live without it. If you buy it and it doesn’t feel good, take it back. You can also do yourself a world of good by planning the presents you buy."

Think about what a certain person really wants. It makes Christmas morning much more enjoyable if you see the person who receives the right gift," he said.

Other ways to cut spending include ordering from catalogs, visiting discount stores and outlet malls, and making each gift meaningful, Fitzgerald said.

"Don’t let guilt lead you to make a decision about presents," he said. "Some people feel horrible because they didn’t buy someone a present last year or forgot a relative’s birthday. So, they increase the price of the present. It doesn’t help to reduce guilt but it does increase your credit card balance."