Holidays on a Tight Budget? Stress Not!

The holiday season is one of many joys and many stresses, and, for many people, one of the main stressors of the holiday season--holiday spending--is becoming more stressful due to economic conditions! Many people are on budgets so tight they squeak, and the thought of dropping hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars on gifts for everyone on their list can bring more of an aching stomach than a warm heart.

If you're looking for ways to celebrate the holiday in a way that brings ample joy, closeness, and lasting memories, but without the lasting debt, I have some ideas for you! (You knew I would, didn't you?) The following resources can help you save as you celebrate, whatever your budget. Enjoy!

• Cheap Gift Ideas
  Would you like to give inexpensive gifts to your nearest and dearest, or even call off some of the gift exchanges entirely in exchange for more love and fiscal sensibility? Here are some ways you might make that happen.

• Why We Go in to Debt for Holiday Gifts
  If you're aware of why you might be going into debt for the holidays, and see that some of these ideas don't warrant the stress that holiday debt creates, it's easier to forge a new path for this year. Read on to find out more about holiday debt, the dirty secret that many of us don't realize we're keeping!

• Holiday Stress and Stress Relief
  Why do we get stressed during the holiday season? Here are some common holiday stressors and ways to find relief!

• Cheap Gift Idea: Journals
  I love giving journals as gifts for three reasons: they conform to the tastes of almost any recipient, they're inexpensive, and I love getting journals myself! If you're looking for a sensibly-priced gift idea, I suggest choosing the perfect journal for your recipient, and letting them have a gift that lasts.

• READERS: Share Your Best Gift Ideas
  When gift-giving occasions come up, it's always good to have a few really great gift ideas up your sleeve--and what could be greater than gifts that relieve stress? Stress relief gifts are thoughtful and they're the gifts that truly keep on giving. Here you'll find readers' best stress relief gift ideas, as well as some of my own. To partake in the spirit of giving, you can also share your favorite stress relief gift ideas as they come to mind. Happy giving!

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