No matter how many resolutions we make, the holidays always seem to cause us to throw budgetary caution to the wind.

If you’re hoping for the gift of more time with your family during the holidays — take heart.

Consulting this list, and checking it twice is sure to help you be wary of your budget, keep your holiday stress to a minimum and help you have time to enjoy the season with your children and family.

Avoid multiple and unnecessary purchases

Incorporating a few tips will help you avoid the last-minute expense and stress of needing a hostess gift for your neighborhood gathering or forgetting a gift for your great uncle. Understanding where to expect some potential financial temptations and how to summon your will power will also help you be kind to your holiday budget.

1. Shop off hours. If your schedule permits, try being either one of the first, or one of the last people in the stores. Avoiding the peak hours of lunch time and immediately after work means more room in the aisles, a better chance of finding a sales associate if you need assistance and shorter check-out lines.

2. Hide things logically. Sorting and storing gifts according to each recipient makes it easier to itemize spending, review your gift inventory and wrap your purchases.

3. Stick to your child’s schedule. Your elevated stress at this time of year can often transfer to your children. Adhering to their regular meal and sleep schedules helps minimize their stress as well as yours. You’ll reduce the chance of needing to purchase items in order to appease your kids while they’re being dragged along on the search for holiday gifts.

4. Solicit input for gift ideas. You’ll avoid pondering over whether your mom wanted a wool or cashmere scarf if you ask her for a list of three gift ideas. She’ll still be surprised at your final selection, but you’ll eliminate some of the stressful guess work and the need to purchase both items just to be “on the safe side.”

5. Set your shopping curfew. It is important to realize your limitations. After a few hours of searching, take a break and resume your quest for the perfect gift the next day. You’re more likely to be creative and inspired on a good night’s sleep and less likely to make impulse purchases.

6. Pen your thank-you notes as soon as you receive a gift. If you wait till Christmas to open the present, address and stamp the envelopes to reduce the work after opening all your gifts.

7. Know where you put things. Write down your hiding spots to eliminate buying last minute items and finding the perfect sweater you bought for your sister in April.

8. Stick to your pre-set spending amount. Leave the house with the money or credit cards you’ve already designated for holiday gift giving and you’ll reduce the chance of spending more than  you’ve budgeted.

9. Don’t over-shop. A generous spirit tends to make people buy more than what someone wants or expects. Take your recipients at face value if they request just one book when you’re inclined to buy out the book store. They’ll appreciate your caring gesture of selecting what they truly wanted and you won’t stress out your budget.

10. Replace gifts with events. Instead of exchanging gifts,gift certificates, go out to lunch, dinner or for drinks with your group of friends or book club. The time spent together is often the best gift of all. It also provides a chance to unwind while you all share the holiday season.

11. No time to go shopping? No problem! Surf the Internet or peruse catalogs on your lunch break or during the kids nap to find some creative gifts. Let friends know if you’re looking for a specific item in case they spot it in their shopping travels.

12. Take care of yourself. It is easy to neglect yourself at the holidays because you’re busy caring for your family and friends. Make sure not to skip meals, get plenty of rest, and stick to your regular work-out and supplement routine to keep your mind and body fresh and stress-free.

13. RSVP honestly. Don’t feel obligated to accept every holiday invitation extended to you. If you don’t have time to make it to a party, let the host or hostess know in plenty of time to avoid feeling guilty for being a last minute no-show.

14. Have a wrapping co-op. Taking painstaking efforts to adorn presents with beautiful packaging isn’t everyone’s forte. Get together with a group of friends to wrap gifts, share shopping tips and support each other through the chaotic holidays. Swapping trimmings, wrappings and stories makes this dreaded task a lot more fun and creates time to get together with friends during the busy season!

15. Don’t put off shopping for something today that might not be there tomorrow. Although waiting until the last possible minute to shop does create a bit of an adrenaline rush, it also adds a tremendous amount of unnecessary stress to your holiday season. If you see a gift that’s perfect for someone on your list, buy it. There’s a chance it might not be available if you procrastinate too long.

16. Get the whole family involved. Relinquishing some of the decorating or shopping control can generate enthusiastic stress relief. Letting children wrap the gifts for their parents or extended family members reduces your work load and gives a gift wrapped in love.

17. Make your own list. Parents tend to focus so much attention of fulfilling their child’s holiday wishes, that they neglect themselves. Make a list of items, goals, or home improvements you’d like to receive.

18. Simple is sometimes better. A heartfelt sentiment attached to a package of homemade toffee or fudge lets auxiliary people in your family’s life know they’re remembered. An afternoon spent in the kitchen making homemade goodies with your family can produce gifts to send the bus driver, scout leader or gymnastics coach that have simplistic charm and are easy on your holiday finances.

19. Don’t be shy. If contributing a lavish dessert to your group celebration is too taxing, don’t feel embarrassed to speak up and say so. Gathering with friends and family should be something to look forward to and shouldn’t feel like a chore. Consider buying a great dessert if you don’t have hours to devote to creating one.

20. Be realistic. Don’t take on more than your schedule or ambition permits. If you’re going to be setting up and putting away the holiday decorations make sure you’re realistic about how much you’re going to display. In order to have time to enjoy the days of celebration, don’t over commit your family to too many events in a day or weekend.

Ba-humbug! Dealing with holiday blues
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