6 smart rules for a sane Christmas

Sure, right now the perfect gift for your beloved is worth whatever it costs. But will you still feel that way come January – and your credit card bills? Budget for the holidays and track your expenses, and you’ll be guaranteed a surprise-free New Year. To help, download our free gift-budget tracker.

Shopping online is easier than ever; many merchants offer free or reduced-fee shipping at this time of year. You can order gifts delivered to your office (away from pre-Christmas peekers). If you must venture out, plan excursions to cover as much ground as possible – you might even be able to do most of your shopping at one store! We did; check out our slide show for this year’s top one-stop-shopping ideas.

Savvy planning (check out more than 1200 recipes at www.homemakers.com) and making dishes ahead will let you enjoy your holiday gatherings as much as your guests do. Get started with these (easy!) party-perfect make-ahead appetizers.

Cranky cousins. Complicated menus. Extraordinary expectations. Is it any wonder entertaining is rarely entertaining for the hostess? Our guide to happy holiday socializing covers not simply practical ideas (pot-luck, anyone?) but expert advice on refereeing (and better yet, avoiding) family feuds.

It might seem paradoxical, but taking time out to rejuvenate and recharge will actually enable you to get a lot more done. Even five or 10 minutes can recharge you, as we show in these 10 Holiday Stress-Busters to Go.

Is a holiday meal meaningful because the food is flawless, or because it’s shared with loved ones? Take a moment to consider what you love most about the season and watch the stress of can’t-find-a-parking-spot-at-the-mall fly away like the down of a thistle. Need inspiration? Read these readers’ stories of the true spirit of Christmas and share your own.