By Courtney Burkholder
Guest Columnist

According to a national survey taken during the Thanks-giving holidays, 70 percent of Americans had less than 10 percent of their holiday shopping done already.

For the mommies in this mix, I felt this was a bit optimistic. And now, two weeks later, my personal statistic has barely budged. Unlike my grandmother, who wrapped up her Christmas shopping in August and is probably enjoying a good book today, I’m striding directly into the holidays in panic mode.

The truth is, I can’t really think about Christmas until I’ve tied up the loose ends of fall: the end of little league football season and the completion of the second six-weeks grading period, just to name a few. Now that I’ve rid my house of pumpkins and gourds, and the Spurs are back in the saddle and occupying my husband’s time and thoughts, I’m ready to tackle Christmas.

Moms, we can do this! I know we can. It’s just a matter of getting organized, making some simple sacrifices, and using my tried and true method of creative holiday financing.

First of all, make your list and check it twice. In fact, check it more than twice. Check it each night before you go to bed. Have a list of each person that you need to shop for and any thoughts or suggestions for gifts. Keep this list in your purse so that you can use it while shopping and add to it when ideas pop into your head. Then check them off as you make your purchases. Nothing makes me happier than checking something off my list!

I like to set a goal for myself, say, three gifts per week. Three is not an overwhelming number, and this keeps me from panicking the week before Christmas and overspending because I feel pressured to buy something – quick! I even recommend writing down your stocking stuffers. It’s easy to over-buy, and even though stocking stuffers are less expensive, they can really add up if you’re not careful. Again, review your list often and start checking things off.

Now, let’s talk about money. Unfortunately, it doesn’t grow on the Christmas tree. Here are a few simple suggestions to free up some cash and help you inch your way through the holiday money-sludge-pit.

Don’t buy for yourself. I mean it! You may love the robe you bought for your sister-in-law, but that doesn’t mean you need one, too. Just like we tell the kids, “We’re not buying anything else because Christmas is just around the corner!” This applies to you, too!

Don’t eat out. It’s tempting to “grab a bite” while your shopping, but this is rarely good on your waistband or your pocket-book. An average lunch out costs $15. Multiply that by three times per week (you’ve got three gifts to buy – remember?) is $45. That’s your sister-in-laws robe, right there. Grab a bite at home or stick a power bar in your purse for later. There are plenty of “eating out” times during the holidays.

Don’t go overboard. Seriously! It’s not how much you spend; it’s the thought and effort you put into the gift. Thinking doesn’t cost anything, and a well thought out gift is always appreciated. One of the best gifts I ever received was a book on how to get published. Not expensive at all, but all about me.

Unfortunately, I’m out of space and my husband does occasionally read this column, so I am unable to go into the details of my tried-and-true method of creative holiday financing. (See me personally for all the juicy details.)

Remember the three golden rules of holiday shopping: get organized, don’t panic, and spend wisely. Happy shopping!