'Tis the Season for Giving and Saving

I'm going to England in January. It's very exciting, and it's very expensive. Unfortunately, the month that comes right before January is December - the month of giving!

This season I am confronted with the problem of finding gifts for all my family and friends, and still having enough money left to live in England, where I'm told everything just costs more (this is from the perspective of the poor little American dollar). So, what to do?

Homemade gifts. I know it sounds cheesy. I know it conjures up images of macaroni glued to a paper plate. Hear me out. You're older now - you can use more sophisticated materials. For example, why not take up knitting? Scarves are super easy, and a very thoughtful gift. You can get free patterns online, and if you're really ambitious, you can branch out into hats and mittens. I knitted my dad a scarf last year, simultaneously solving the money problem and the what-to-get-dad problem!

You might also consider baked goods. Cookies are mass-producible, and most everyone likes them. Dress them up in a nice tin and hand them out to your friends. It's a gift that you've put some effort into, and it's not a fruitcake - you can't go wrong!

If you're a more artistic soul, there's always homemade trinkets. You can make earrings, figurines, decorative boxes, pencil holders, and much more out of polymer clay, or air-dry clay. Add a splash of paint, and you're set. This also might be just the time of year to take up watercolors or oil pastels. An original print by an up-and-coming artist is a pretty neat gift to receive - especially if the artist is your son or daughter.

So what to do if you're just not into the whole homemade deal? Well, you've got two options.

The first option is some exhaustive bargain hunting. Online stores can have some great deals, but watch out for shipping charges! Scour the clearance racks at department stores, check out the dollar stores if you must - you never know, you might get lucky.

Bargain hunting is hit or miss, at best. Another option is to talk with your friends and family about your financial situation. Maybe the gang can arrange a grab-bag this year instead of an all-out present exchange. My grandparents had 12 kids - in my family, no one buys something for everyone. We put all of our names in a hat, and draw one, and just get that one person something. It's a simple way to take the stress off. Of course, on my mom's side we exchange white elephants, which is amusing, but not recommended for normal people (if you don't know about white elephants... don't ask).

Analyze your list of people to shop for. Do you really need to keep buying presents for that friend to whom you haven't spoken in a year? There may be a few people on there who are in the same situation as you. What if you and all your friends just got together to do something fun one day? If you're anything like me, you have no time at all during the year, and it would be nice to take a day to hang out with everyone. You could stay in and watch old favorite movies, bake cookies, have a video game tournament, whatever. As long as everyone has fun - that's what the season's about.

Hopefully this list has eased some of your worries - remember, it really IS the thought that counts, and with enough thought, you can come up with a gifts that are perfect - both for your friends or family AND for you!