Money's tight, the credit cards are maxed and you're not much of a hand at making crafts anyone would want to receive.
So how do you manage holiday gifts?
First, the obvious. Before you buy the first present, make a list of everyone you'd like to buy a gift for and set a limit of how much you want to spend on each.
Total those figures, then add in what you expect to spend for decorating, holiday clothes, tips, entertaining and travel.
Trim down and try something new ....
If the grand total is overwhelming, start trimming your list.
Some ideas:
Agree to exchange cards instead of gifts with friends.
Persuade your extended family to draw names rather than have everyone buy everyone else a gift. Boot the adults and give gifts only to the kids.
Nabbing the best deals often requires vigilance, since the real bargains tend to come and go quickly. The guitar deal, for example, lasted just a few hours. Of course, you'll need to make sure you're not buying a bunch of stuff you don't need or can't use. A bargain's not a bargain if it induces you to spend money you wouldn't otherwise.
Use your spare change. Got a big bucket of pennies and other coins? Haul your clanging cache to your bank, if it offers free sorting, or look for a COINSTAR.. sorter that offers gift certificates in lieu of cash...
Sell last year's misfires. Typically, the longer you wait to sell something, the less value it has. So round up the latest batch of clothes that didn't fit, gadgets you didn't need or knickknacks that didn't suit and get them listed on an auction site like eBay (good for collectibles, clothes and small electronics) or a classified site like Craigslist (best for big, bulky items).
If weather in your area permits, a pre-holiday yard sale might help you generate some coin.
Scope out your job perks. Some companies, and government agencies offer discount passes for movies, theme parks and other venues.
You're not supposed to sell these tickets, but you're typically not forbidden from giving them as gifts, and someone who doesn't have access to such perks might appreciate them.
Look for two-for-one deals. Magazines and museums, in particular, often try to extend their audience by having current customers hook up their friends with a free subscription or membership. | 
