Making holiday shopping simple and meaningful

It's that time again. Santas and reindeer are filling store shelves faster than you can say "Halloween." This year, why subject yourself to super-expensive, super-crowded and super-empty mall-oriented consumerism?

Simpleliving.gather.com offers tips to make this year extra special ... and easy.

* My family and I (the adults anyway) will agree to not buy each other anything some years. As long as there's a Christmas or Hanukkah card or day-of phone call, no one feels like the holidays are any less special.

* My boyfriend and I agreed to limit gift-giving to $20 or less. I have shaken hands with friends on not spending more than $5. Often those gifts are the best. They are the most creative and in sync with what you need (I got dashboard cleaner and car air freshner from one person and absolutely loved it).

*Another tip is to donate to good causes. If your special someone needs something to unwrap, then buy something small that symbolizes the donation.

An example: donate good money to cancer research and then buy a stationary set or single Christmas card from MD Anderson Cancer Center that has a drawing on it from a child patient. Even the money you spend on the card goes to cancer research.

* Get gift cards or tickets for events, not objects. Often, if you order gift cards online, you can get discounts, too. Think ball games, Chuck E Cheese, cat shows, rock concerts, plays, movies, restaurants, dinner theater, fairs, dance classes, etc. This tip saves time, money and is guaranteed to deliver a smile. Human interaction brings more happiness than an object.

* Think services. A gift card for a massage, facial, maid, personal chef for a day, babysitter, etc., goes a long way. Certificates can be bought online (saving time and money) or if you are good at any of the above, you can offer the service (for free baby!). It doesn't matter how old you get. Parents still love these kinds of gifts even when you're in your late 20s.

* Magazine subscriptions = time saver. Fill out a subscription card while you're waiting in the doctor's office. Go on-line. Get a copy to wrap while you're at the grocery store or book store, and drop the subscription card in the mailbox on your way home. The good thing about magazines is that they allow you to get very specific, so it's easy and thoughtful.