Today is Black Friday — the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season. But a great bargain isn’t so great if it means spending the holidays in extra debt. Here are three tips to ease the after-Christmas bills blues to help you make the most of the big sales. Instead of getting carried away by all the big sales and promotions, set some limits in writing before you leave the house. If you haven’t already, create a detailed holiday budget for gifts, decorations, and special grocery items—and stick with it. Write down exactly who you are shopping for and what types of gifts you are looking for. Go shopping with a plan . . . and enjoy the holiday season without going into debt. If debt is already a concern for you, here are 10 Christmas shopping mistakes to avoid.