"It is well into November and the world is ramping up its Christmas hype. We are bombarded with Christmas food, Christmas gifts, Christmas expectations and Christmas pressure. This can be one of the best times of year, but many people end up overcome by stress, guilt, molten credit cards and broken relationships. It doesn’t have to be like this. With a little forethought and planning, you can push aside the trouble and look forward to Christmas again.

Here are 7 quick tips to get you going:
Take the time now, to decide what is important to you and why? Don’t let anyone else swamp you with their ideas. Decide for yourself what is most important about Christmas. Is it the social side of Christmas, or the spiritual side? Is it the family part or the material things. Is it all about business or is it about doing good things. Decide for yourself what is most important and you will be on the right track to taking over your own Christmas.
Let your decision determine how you spend your Christmas. This year, be active in deciding how you will spend your time. I will be going to Church at Christmas, because I have chosen to, but I know full well that the church will be loaded with people who are there because someone else is pushing them. Rather than just going along with whoever pressures you the most, take over your own Christmas by doing what you think is important.
If you want to give a gift, make it meaningful. If not, don’t. Useless gifts that nobody wants are such a waste. How many times have you received a Bounce Gift - one of those gifts that you receive, that only bounce in your life and then are out the door into the trash. Don’t give Bounce gifts. All you are doing is perpetuating the problem. If you give a gift, make it meaningful (this doesn’t necessarily mean expensive). If you can’t think of anything meaningful to give, don’t give anything at all. Take control of giving gifts this Christmas.
Don’t fall for other people’s manipulative games. Christmas is not a time to play politics and favorites. It is not about behaving like spoilt children. If you choose not to spend your Christmas with someone manipulative, then there may be awkward consequences. Live with the consequences and move on, because you will still be way ahead if you steer your own course without manipulation. Of course this works both ways. Don’t waste time trying to play games with other people’s lives either. Take over your own Christmas but don’t try and take over others.
Do what you decide to do and forget about false guilt. You may feel guilty about not doing something or not going somewhere, but if you have already decided, then stick to your decision. You owe it to yourself to do what you think is important. If you choose not to spend your Christmas with your toxic friend, then don’t do it. Take over your Christmas by forgetting about false guilt.
As well as avoiding what you don’t want your Christmas to be like, take steps to design a really great Christmas doing what is important to you. My Christmas this year is going to be great. It will involve immediate family, skiing, friends, and no guilt. What about yours. Decide who you want to be with, where you will be, and what you will be doing. Take control of your Christmas by making a plan.
Try leaving your credit card at home leading up to Christmas. That way, you will be less likely to spend money that you don’t have. Try pre-planning what you will spend money on and sticking to your plan. Go to the shops with a list rather than a credit card. After Christmas is over, you will appreciate the debt that you don’t have much more than the pleasure of giving gifts that were too expensive for your budget.

If something is wrong with your Christmas you still have time to set it right. Nobody is going to do it for you, it is up to you. Don’t let this year be as stressful and frustrating as the last. Take back your Christmas this year and every year from now on."

Great tips that I wish I saw during the holiday season.