I have a love/hate relationship with my Christmas list. While I absolutely love shopping for THE perfect gift, my list never seems to stop growing!  Sometimes we want to give gifts to family, friends, co-workers, coaches, teachers, neighbors, hairdressers, mail carriers, sanitation workers, and even your pets, but you don't have time or budget to extend your gift list beyond immediate family and a few close friends, right?

So what's a gift guru like you to do?

• Unleash Your Creativity: There's a lot to be said for homemade gifts. Christmas goodies on holiday plates are not only inexpensive, they're easy to manage along with the rest of your holiday baking. My son is making holiday cards and my daughter and her friends are making bracelets for each other this year.  
• Think Decorative: Ornaments are an inexpensive gift that can be used year after year after year. And it's so easy to find a perfect ornament to suit that special someone.
• Be realistic: It's no secret that times can be tough - especially around the holidays. You might have to curb your list a little bit, but you can still let those special people know they aren't forgotten. A steaming cup of cocoa or soup and a chat at the curb with your mail carrier or sanitation worker is an inexpensive way to make a difference - in their day and their holiday season. 

Before you let your list take over your happy holiday, check it twice. Maybe you can come up with some more ideas to get your list, your schedule, and your budget under control this year.

Your "Check It Twice" Gift Guru,
Linda