How to avoid exceeding normal page limits after revision?
How do I avoid this over-length after incorporating all the revisions?


There are a few tricks that authors typically use to reduce a manuscript's length (especially for conference papers with hard page limitations), but none would be sufficient to shorten a paper by 1-2 pages, and some of them might be nulled by the copy-editor. Moreover, the changes would be so substantial that the reviewers might require a second round of major revision.

Therefore, if you really can't afford those fees because, e.g., you don't have departmental funds, my suggestion is to ask the publisher if they can waive your overlength fees.