Christmas is the time of year when we all get excited to spend time with family, eat lots of food, and bake more cookies than Betty Crocker herself. But let us not forget the stresses that come with shopping for and finding the perfect gifts for our loved ones while we are living some of the poorest years of our lives.

Here are a few tips to help you save money and make the most of your budget this season, and still give some of the best gifts possible.

1. Start Saving Now

One of the best things you can do is start at the beginning of the year putting money away to go Christmas shopping. If you put even just one dollar aside every day from December 26^th-December 1^st of the following year, you’ll have over $300 of shopping money saved away with pretty much no effort. Have an extra dollar here or there? Throw it aside and increase your shopping potential!

2. Set a Budget

If you’ve been saving all year, or even just for the past few months, your budget is pretty much set for you. If not though, no big! But it is important to make sure you have a number in mind that you would like to spend throughout the holiday season and stick to it. It’s very easy to overspend on the people you love and care about. But during the holiday season, it truly is the thought that counts. As long as you are shopping thoughtfully, you will be able to come up with some of the best gifts for your family and friends without completely breaking the bank.

3. Make a List (and check it twice)

Santa isn’t the only one figuring out who’s naughty and nice this year. Make a list of all of the people in your life that you intend to buy gifts for. You may see a bunch of things in stores that make you think of your favorite people. But let’s sort these things out. You don’t want to go hog wild on a person and realize that you don’t have enough money in your budget to buy for everyone. Go into each store, whether online or in an actual store, with an idea of what you would like to get for each person on your list. The hard part is deciding what to get people, right? If you find yourself meandering around the store, you end up spending way more money on not-the-right gift. Do the thinking ahead of time and play the tunnel vision game through the store. Stick to your list, stick to your budget, and come out on top this Christmas.

4. Christmas Stockings for All

Many of us have several friends we need to shop for. If your group isn’t doing a Secret Santa exchange, (which would also be the perfect plan to help save money) go the creative route with a stocking stuffed with all of your friends’ favorite (inexpensive) things. Creative doesn’t have to be difficult. Stuff all of your friends’ stockings with similar, yet unique, gifts. Invest a few dollars in their favorite airplane-size alcohol, find iconic fuzzy socks, and candy! Lots and lots of candy! Want to get even more personal? Grab some clear ornaments from Target or some wooden letters from Michael’s and design a sweet decoration made with love (and little money)!

You only have a few days left to gather up your Santa magic so let's get a move on! Merry Christmas and happy shopping :)