Stop overpaying for gifts! Tools to keep cash in your pocket

Money is hard to earn and all too easy to spend, especially during the holidays.

But there are tools that will do the leg work for you, saving money and time.

Personal finance expert Kimberly Palmer with Nerdwallet says for all things Amazon, try the price-tracking website “Camel Camel Camel.”

“You want to be sure to look up the price history so you can see when it’s the best time to buy,” Palmer says. “You can also sign up for price alerts so if you know you want to buy something, and you want to keep your eye on it, you put in your email.”

To have coupons and promo codes automatically applied to your online checkout at thousands of stores including Macy’s, Walmart and Best Buy, use the web browser Honey.

If you prefer to shop in person, the app ShopSavvy has you scan the bar code on the item and it searches for a lower price.

For cashback, try sites like Rakuten and RetailMeNot.

After signing up for a free account, click the offer you want and the site will redirect you to the retailer. It tracks your spending and later drops the money into your account.

If you’re shopping for toys, Sara Skirboll, a shopping expert with RetailMeNot, says some of the toys topping lists include “Owleez” and “Rizmo.”

“They combine a little bit of education with care and that’s how you get them to work,” Skirboll says.

Other popular toys on the market are newer versions of what came out last year. “Think L.O.L. Surprise!, there’s a new Winter Wonderland, and also Fingerlings.”