By Andrea Woroch

With the Holiday shopping season almost over, you may be patting yourself on the back for staying in budget so far. You've made a detailed list, searched for bargains, scored some deals and kept food costs down. All in all, you're on track to avoid going into debt this holiday season.

And then, the unexpected happens. Someone surprises you with a generous gift, you totally spaced a gift for your child's teacher, and Aunt Marge decides on a last-minute visit. Avoid breaking your carefully crafted budget with these hacks for hidden holiday costs.

1. Gift Wrap
 You may think of gift wrap as a nominal expense, but at $3 to over $10 per roll, it can really add up! While a definitive number is hard to track down, some experts suggest annual spending on gift wrap is around $2.6 billion. That doesn't factor in the cost to the environment, which Earth911 estimates to be 4 million tons of trash annually. Consider alternative ways to wrap: newspaper, magazines and even cereal boxes are creative options. If you must buy wrapping products, head to the dollar store for some serious relief on prices.

2. Baby Sitting Services
It's tough to holiday shop with kids in tow, especially when you're helping you-know-who fulfill his gift list. Additionally, holiday parties and work get-togethers rarely include kids. These activities alone will increase the cost of your childcare this season, especially if you have several kiddos. Check Sitterycity.com and Care.com for rate calculators, and then consider signing up for BabysitterExchange, which operates like a babysitting co-op. This option can also help you schedule your errands or carpool with other busy parents.

3. Lights Galore
There are few things more festive than holiday twinkle lights, but they may be costing you more than you intended. If your electricity bills are giving you Grinch-like feelings, consider switching to LED lights this year. Home Depot's annual trade-in program has passed, but you can save your incandescent strands for next year's event for credit toward additional LED lights. Turn your lights off an hour earlier at night and only run them for a few days during the holidays for extra energy savings.

4. Fuel Use
The holiday season is a bustling time, with constant trips to the mall and supermarket for gifts and groceries. Reduce your fuel use (and stress level!) by shopping online for gifts. In some cases you may not have to wait for delivery -- eBay is offering same-day delivery in select areas, while Amazon is partnering with the USPS to deliver gifts on Sundays.

5. Greeting Cards
An estimated 2.6 billion holiday cards are sold each year in the United States. At an average price of $3 to $5 per card plus postage, the cost of sending warm wishes home for the holidays can add up quickly. Eliminate this cost by sending an eCard from sites like Punchbowl instead. You can also create one photo card with a general seasonal greeting and scan it for endless email messages to family, friends and coworkers at nearly no cost!

6. Baked Goods
You may have budgeted for the holiday party you're hosting, but what about those baked treats you buy on the way to friends' parties and work gatherings? Keep your grocery budget in check by baking your own sweets. You can save up to 300 percent by avoiding those pre-made baked goods, plus homemade is always better! If time is an issue, buy sweets in bulk from Costco or Sam's Club and save 30 to 60 percent per unit. Then, separate the goodies into festive bags or boxes as hostess gifts or thoughtful presents for your neighbors.

7. Bank Gift Cards
Everyone loves a gift card, right? When shoppers aren't sure what gift card to buy, they may opt for bank cards like VISA, MasterCard and the like. However, these cards come with fees, requiring you to fork over more than face value for the gift card. Skip these cards in favor of ever-popular retailer cards like Amazon, Target or Walmart. You can even buy retailer gift cards at a discount through GiftCardGranny.com, saving anywhere from 5 to 25 percent.

8. Online Scams
Internet crimes cost consumers an average of $1,800 each in 2012, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The holiday season is an especially popular time for hackers and scammers to take advantage of online shoppers. However, taking a few simple precautions will protect you from these Web criminals. Always shop on a secure website, and never enter your credit card or personal information when using a public network. Look for the "s" in "https" to ensure a secure network and shop with reputable online merchants.

9. Unexpected Gifts
Receiving gifts you didn't expect can lead to unplanned purchasing. To avoid going over budget for people who didn't make your original gift list, have a backup of homemade or DIY gifts. An inexpensive candy jar filled with festive sweets is always a hit, as are a plate of homemade cookies. Check Pinterest for other ideas, including mason jars filled with cocoa mix, marshmallows and peppermint sticks!

10. White Elephant Exchanges
The go-to activity for corporate holiday parties is the white elephant gift exchange. Intended to be inexpensive, these events can put a dent in your budget when you attend several in one season. Instead of buying multiple items "valued at $10 or less," look around your house for an appropriate item to regift. No one has to know you didn't actually purchase it for the party!

 Andrea Woroch is a nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert who helps consumers live on less without radically changing their lifestyles.