It might be hard to believe, but in just days, you’ll be clearing the turkey and gravy from the table and napping in front of the TV with football or parades in the background. You’ve got to rest up and prepare for the next big event of the season—Black Friday shopping.

Whether you prefer tackling your opponents for the last $5 Easy Bake Oven or shopping from the safety of your sofa, you’ve got to develop a pregame strategy. If you don’t want a technical foul called on your budget, you’ve got some work to do. We’re here to share some steps to help you win as you set up your Black Friday budget and shopping plan this year.

Ready. Set. Hike.

In 1991, country rock classic “Life is a Highway” hit the airways, bringing with it a metaphor about life and driving we’ll never forget: “Life is a highway. I’m gonna ride it all night long.” So catchy.

Budgeting’s like a highway too: A path from where you are to where you want to be, and a road you’ve got to keep on consistently if you want to be successful. Someone should write a song about that. We’d download it.

To help with all the driving you’ll do on life’s literal highway, we’ve come up with a list of 10 practical ways to save on transportation so you can keep on trucking—only in a thriftier way. Ready to accelerate your money goals? Hit the gas! Green light says GO.

Insurance can be nothing but a heartache, nothing but a mistake if you don’t know what you’re doing or what kind to buy. We aren’t quoting the Backstreet Boys to shame you, but to let you know there is a way to get the right kind of coverage at a great price.

We don’t care who you are, where you’re from, or what you did for insurance in the past—you can save money while still getting the coverage you need, starting today! Or tomorrow, if it’s currently past 5 p.m.

Want to learn more about what kind of coverage you should get in language understandable by the insurance elite and illiterate alike? That’s what we’re here for. Let’s break down some common insurance questions and establish some clear answers. Because we know you want it that way.

What’s confusing, stressful and often expensive? Probably at least five things (or people—let’s be honest) popped into your head. But the one we’re talking about is insurance.

Insurance: noun. 1. Coverage by a contract for reimbursement covered under said contract, usually against loss or damage by an event such as death, fire, accident, sickness, or other such horridness. 2. Something you know you need, but don’t really understand. 3. A sign you’re adulting.

Well, we have good news! You don’t have to be an insurance expert to be well insured. (Thank goodness!) But you do have to be proactive.

Which brings us to our November Challenge! Try our new 5-Minute Coverage Checkup. It’s easy, quick and clear: three of our favorite words in this hustle-and-bustle world. Plus, you might even save some cash: three more of our favorite words.

Gather: the new trendy word you can find hand-lettered on wooden signs all over the place these days. But this is the month when it gets the most attention. We gather to cheer our teams. We gather to shop the sales. We gather in gratefulness for family and friends—and food!

In the hustle of the holiday and all the deals that happen after, don’t forget to budget for all the upcoming goodness. Remember these nine things as you set up your November EveryDollar budget: