Christmas is just around the corner. Chances are, you’ve already started on your holiday shopping. If not, at least you’ve already made a mental, or even an actual, list of what to buy for your family and friends this gift-giving season. The Christmas decorations are most probably out and up, and either you have started on your Christmas grocery shopping, or at least already planned what to prepare on this most joyful time of the year.

Without a doubt, Christmas is the most anticipated time of the year. It’s the time when people seem to be at their happiest and giving mode, and a chance for families and friends to celebrate, eat, exchange presents, and simply enjoy the joy of being together. But without a doubt too, Christmas can be, if not indeed, the most expensive time of the year and if you don’t plan your finances this season right, you could end up going way over your budget and regret spending on things you didn’t actually need.

As a single mother to two kids, I can share my experiences and ideas about my Christmas style and hope you can get pointers from it…or you can use and plan totally something of your own. Whatever it is, the point is to enjoy the Christmas season without breaking your wallet.

Beat the Christmas rush. Shop early. Nothing ruins Christmas shopping spirit more than long lines and inefficient, agitated salespersons. Though moshing with the thick shopping crowd is part of the fun this season, it may take up a lot of your precious time and the gift items you’ve had your eyes on may end up bought by somebody else. Shop early and you will have the luxury of shopping at ease and with all the products you want still available.

Shop online. If you want to avoid the Christmas rush and lines stated above, you can shop in complete ease and convenience online and even enjoy great discounts and maybe even freebies. In fact, you may even get better deals online as they usually offer wholesale, cheaper prices than actual, retail stores. Browse the net for the best deals this Christmas and enjoy shopping right at the convenience of your own home.

Be creative. Over the years, Christmas has become commercialized and the personal touch has become less or even totally gone. Add a little (or a lot!) of love into your Christmas presents by being creative in your wrapping. Recycle or use unique gift wrapping papers to wrap your gifts. Add beads, fresh flowers, or anything your creative mind can conjure up and the recipient will feel special with the conscious effort you made into the wrapping. Best of all, your gift will be a one-of-a-kind work of love.

Waste nothing/ Recycle. Just because it’s Christmas, or any occasion for that matter, doesn’t mean everything has to be new. Store old Christmas decorations properly so you can use them over and over. Just add a little something here and there to make them look new each year. When it comes to your Christmas clothes, make them look brand new by adding a little scarf, jacket or ribbon, or match them up with other items to make them look right out of your shopping bag.

Plan ahead. Nothing beats planning ahead. As early as November, start planning what gifts to buy, what food to prepare, who to invite in your parties, what to wear, and all the preparations that Christmas entails and you will be amazed at the time and money you can save by planning and preparing way ahead of time. Christmas should be a time of celebration with family and friends, not of stress and panic!

The best gifts can be free. We may freak out thinking and planning what presents to buy for our family and friends, but we sometimes forget that the best gifts, as well as the best things in life, can be free. Think of gifts that don’t cost anything like visiting a long-time friend, taking care of our sick grandmother, helping our neighbor clean her house, donating our old things to charity, or simply spending quality time with our family and friends, and we will realize that the gifts that don’t cost anything are the ones that have the greatest value.

Merry Christmas, everyone!