Christmas is always an expensive time of year, and this year any expenditure is going to hurt more than usual. That’s why, for her final tip this Christmas season, Linda suggests two ways you can better manage your Christmas budget.
Before everyone gets together, contact everyone to offer two suggestions. If you’re the host you can do this easily when you invite your guests—but if that doesn’t happen, you could take it upon yourself if you’re a guest.
For the children’s gifts, suggest a (low) price cap for all gifts. Not only will this help you budget, it will have the excellent side-effect of preventing ‘gift competition’—feeling the need to show off by offering the most lavish gifts.
Then when it comes to the adults, suggest a Secret Santa exchange, one that also carries a price cap. That way, each adult buys only one gift for one other guest. This has the extra benefit of allowing you time to think of a truly desirable and thoughtful offering for the person whose name you’ve drawn.

Join us tomorrow for the final part of our '12 Days of Stressmas' mini-series.

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Caroline Wilkinson is a Certified Animal Behaviourist. She is a Full (assessed) Member of the APDT and INTODogs – as well as a Registered Training Instructor (ABTC). Caroline is also a Certified Real Dog Yoga Practitioner and an Applied Canine Zoopharmacognosist. Caroline writes for Edition Dog Magazine, as well as a number of trusted pet brands. She also speaks around the country – presenting workshops and webinars with a focus on living more mindfully alongside our canine companions.
As the Founder of digital pet coaching service Barket Place, Caroline has a passion for improving connections between human and hound, with a focus on relationships and reduction of stress for canines living in a human world. She helps pet parents, like you, to work through challenges they may be experiencing with their dog's behaviour, so that they can get back to the important job of loving their dog.
Dr. Linda Blair is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Chartered Scientist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and registered as a Practitioner Psychologist in the Health and Care Professions Council. She trained at Harvard and the Institute of Psychiatry in London, and has offered cognitive behavioural and mindfulness-based psychotherapy for over 40 years in the NHS and privately. She has also taught various aspects of psychology at the University of Cambridge and the Open University.
Linda is currently working as a clinician and freelance journalist. She’s written regular advice columns for the Guardian, Telegraph, Daily Mail, The Times, and Psychologies magazine. She’s a contact for the British Psychological Society’s media group, psychology expert for netmums, and author of five self-help books. Linda broadcasts frequently on radio, appears on TV and online, and is in demand as a speaker across the UK.