I don't know about you, but it seems like just when my budget is ready to come off of life-support from last year's Christmas spending, the holidays roll around again.

And, though I vow every year to make it more about the important things in life like spending time with family and friends, working for charities, or helping out a friend who's going through a rough patch, it always seems like I get turned around, and next thing I know I'm getting decked in the malls instead of decking the halls, and running demolition derby with shopping carts in big box stores.

It ain't pretty folks - it's war. And it's expensive.

In fact, with the exception of 2008, a time when Christmas spending fell off of a cliff, the average adult has historically spent upwards of $800 on Christmas gifts. Wow. That is a lot of money! The dilemna for those of us who enjoy giving gifts but don't want to (or can't) go anywhere near that number this year - or ever - becomes how to give inexpensive, but still meaningful, gifts. Being both frugal and generous by nature has forced me to come up with a gift giving strategy that satisfies both personality traits.

One trick to inexpensive gift ideas is to personalize an otherwise inexpensive gift, and by that, I don't necessarily mean to engrave a key-chain and move on. I do mean that we need to really think about the recipient; to draw from the history of our relationship with them. Know what they like, dislike, draw from shared experiences, then personalize the gift. The same engraved key-chain, if engraved with something that refers to a shared moment, then becomes personalized and special. Pick the gift to match the event, then personalize it to match the memory. It requires thought but, after all, isn't that the (other) point to Christmas? To think of others?

I have more than a few plant lovers among my friends.

This is lucky for me because they make a great inexpensive gifts. Again, the trick is to match the gift to the recipient. Don't purchase a plant for someone who doesn't like them or doesn't like to care for them.

But if they do, four inch potted plants are usually very inexpensive in your big box home improvement stores. So is spray paint! I like to cruise through thrift stores looking for interesting vessels to set the plant in (which will come in an ugly plastic nursery container). If the container doesn't match, or is all roughed up - spray paint it. Just pick up a 4" plastic water saucer, add a bow, and voila!

I personally like to watch for a good price on small (4" size) Christmas Cactus. The great things about this plant are that it produces a gorgeous bloom around Christmas time, it doesn't have needles, and it is easy care for.

Another inexpensive Christmas gift trick is to use your head and plan ahead.

I am not 'crafty,' but I can read and follow directions which makes this next idea a win-win for me.

I have a lot of friends and not a lot of budget. This presents a financial conundrum of epic proportions every year because I do like to do something for each of them during the holidays.

But how do I do something special for them and still keep the amount somewhere below the stratosphere?

Here's one of my best solutions: A couple of years back I purchased an Iron On Transfer Software Program which allows me to make personalized tee-shirts and sweatshirts. During the year I watch for sales on good quality garments, then I use the history I share with my friends to come up with something that maybe pokes fun, or acknowledges a special talent. For example:

I have one friend who writes about everyone he runs into in his novel. For him, the sweatshirt read: Be careful, or you'll wind up in my novel!

For my cranky, pregnant friend: Don't mess with this hormonal fat lady.

For my friend who writes scathing reviews: Stand Back! I have a word processor and I'm not afraid to use it!

You get the idea. Now, if your friend is not the kind who would wear something like this, then of course you don't waste your time or money on this. Some people love these, others... not so much.

At the risk of sounding like a Paul Anka song, these are the times of your life.

And a photograph that captures an un-contrived smile or a funny moment is priceless. Those candid moments, those memories, captured on film (who am I kidding? captured digitally) are perhaps one of the greatest gifts to give.

And best of all, they are very inexpensive gifts!

Interesting, inexpensive, and pre-matted frames can be found anywhere from custom framing stores to big chain stores. Find your frames, then finish the project off by taking your camera's little digital card to the photo center in your local big box store and order your prints to match your frames.  

Donating your time to a charity is perhaps the least expensive and most rewarding of all gift giving you can do.

The twist is that the giver is the one who really receives the gift, and nothing else I can think of feels as good as this. The best part is that you can do this all year long, and it is something you can share and involve your friends and family in too.

There are many worthy charities having a variety of needs. Just find one that suits your interests and your skill sets. My family likes to donate construction services to the elderly and disabled, and other skills to cancer related causes.  Choose what feels right to you.

The warmth and sense of purpose you get from being a part of something like this is the kind of thing that fills a big empty hole in the heart many experience during the holidays.