The holidays put pressure on people to spend, spend, spend. But if there is an upside, it's that this year we can trim the fat without feeling like we're the only ones.

Wondering how to make this the best family Christmas ever on a limited budget? Try swapping some of our spendthrift Christmas Past habits for smarter, better Christmas 2009 improvements. (You may want to keep 'em even after the economy improves!)

PRICEY TECH TOYS

CHRISTMAS PAST: Buying your kids the latest and greatest gadgets because "everyone else has them" and you'd feel guilty if yours didn't.

CHRISTMAS 2009: Downgrading their expectations a bit. Give them cash or a gift card. If they want to use that towards an expensive new iPod or smart phone, saving the rest of the money is up to them. Point out that "everyone" definitely does not have these expensive new toys. More kids are making due with what they already have for longer periods, and with unemployment at about 8.5 percent that's not likely to change anytime soon.

MONEY SAVED: Anywhere from $20 to hundreds per child

BENEFITS:

• Stopping the madness. An upgraded smart phone every year? Really?!
• Helping your kids understand current events and how the news impacts them.
  

DINNER ENTERTAINING

CHRISTMAS PAST: Blowout dinner party. Cue the bottles of Veuve and catered menu.

CHRISTMAS 2009: Break out the cookbooks and host a potluck. Coordinate who's bringing what via email or Facebook, and turn it into a fundraiser by asking everyone to skip the hostess gifts in favour of a $10 donation for the local food bank.

MONEY SAVED: $100+ for you, and about $10-$20 per guest on hostess gifts

BENEFITS:

• Giving back to your community
• Everyone gets to show off their cooking acumen
• Great party, minimal effort!
  

THE FAMILY GET-TOGETHER

CHRISTMAS PAST: Forced togetherness with your extended family. And his. Still stressing about hitting the road to see relatives you always argue with? Maybe it's time to just cut the cord once and for all.

CHRISTMAS 2009: Sleep in, have a leisurely brunch with your spouse and kids, open gifts. Play Wii, watch TV, talk on the phone with friends, surf the 'Net. Read a book. Cook dinner as a family, and eat when you feel like it. Call your extended family at the "big dinner" to send your love. Miss 'em? Then head back next year. Don't? Then consider this your new tradition!

MONEY SAVED: Money for gas or bus-, train- or airfare to one, two – or, in the case of divorced grandparents, three or even four – different destinations, plus en-route meals and hostess gift.

BENEFITS:

• R & R time
• More time to spend one-on-one with your kids and spouse
• No need to worry about dressing up
  

SPENDING PHILOSOPHY

CHRISTMAS PAST: "Charge it!"

CHRISTMAS 2009: If you don't have the cash on hand to buy something, don't buy it. This will help you avoid that dreaded January credit card statement. Easier said than done, we admit, but moving to cash-only spending habits will force you to buy less expensive gifts and help you save money this holiday season – and beyond.

MONEY SAVED: Pricey interest on credit card purchases or cash advances

BENEFITS: Improved spending habits now and in the long-term


CO-WORKERS AND TEACHERS

CHRISTMAS PAST: Buying gifts for everyone at your office or kids' school/daycare

CHRISTMAS 2009: Cut the stress of shopping for multiple people by giving readily shared "team" gifts. Some suggestions: a fruit and chocolate basket for the entire team/staff, a gourmet coffee and tea selection for the break room, a symbolic "adoption" of an endangered animal though the World Wildlife Fund, or funding for children's health, education or emergency aid through World Vision.

MONEY SAVED: Varies depending on number of gift recipients

BENEFITS:

• Reduced shopping time (or no mall time if you make a donation online!)
• Gift recipients get to avoid clutter – or having to make re-gifting plans for any sweet-but-just-not-my-style gifts!
• Reduced packaging waste
  

NOTE-TO-SELF ON THE GIFT-TO-SELF

CHRISTMAS PAST: Pampering yourself with a trip to the spa (ski slopes, upscale boutique etc etc) because this whole holiday-prep stuff is so stressful!

CHRISTMAS 2009: Moving from "me, me, me" to "We."
We all want to curb our selfish tendencies, even if it is hard. One of the best ways to move beyond your acquisitive mindset – especially during this time of year– is to get out there and do something for others. The thing about volunteering is, it can be as beneficial for the volunteer as it is for the beneficiaries. Volunteers have lower rates of depression than non-volunteers, according to the US Corporation for National & Community Service. And older adults who volunteer in at-risk urban schools not only contribute to improving student educational experiences, but they also gain significant improvements to their own mental and physical health, says a Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions study. So if you can feel better for free, why not do that rather than spending up a storm? Help out at your local food bank by sorting donations or serving meals at the big Christmas dinner. (These usually take place prior to Christmas proper, and won't conflict with your own family plans.)

MONEY SAVED: Whatever "retail therapy" money you were going to spend decompressing from your other pre-holiday duties

BENEFITS GAINED:

• You'll feel great!
• New skills that you may be able to transfer to your work
• If volunteering is done with family members or friends, you'll have a great new holiday tradition