The holiday season is here! But while the kids are dreaming of dancing sugarplums, you may find yourself searching for gifts and making the world’s longest holiday to-do list.

Had enough of your annual, end-of-year expenses and hair-pulling? If you want to maximize your holiday cheer this year, try these nine tips for spending and stressing less, so you can enjoy the season instead. 

1. Take the guilt out of shopping with a holiday budget

The point of holiday gifts isn’t to perfectly express every aspect of your relationship, says Amy M. Gardner, a 42-year-old certified executive coach in Chicago, IL.

Often, people think of an item a person might like and then try to find it at the lowest price, she adds. Instead, Gardner recommends first choosing a spending limit for each person, then only looking at gifts within budget that match the recipient’s personality and interests.

Read the rest of my article over on Citi’s Credit Knowledge Center !