You find yourself suddenly in the thick of the holiday season... This is supposed to be a joyous time, right? So why are you tired-out, stressed-out, and maxxed-out? Here are some guidelines to help you not only get through it, but get through with that all important yuletide cheer.

GIFT SHOPPING
Keeping your mental and financial stability intact when it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts can be tricky. Follow these tips to keep it light and fun.

First, get everybody’s Christmas wish lists EARLY and add your own ideas. Next, set a budget for your total spending and for each person. If you sort all this out early on, you can keep your eye out for gifts during your daily activities and pick things up as you see them. Then you can avoid, or at least minimize, the desperate last-minute dash to the stores when the merchandise is picked through, the lines are long and your fellow shoppers are beginning to foam at the mouth with mall-rage.