It’s the most wonderful time of the year – and the most expensive! Between festive family dinners, parties, holiday travel and shopping, our wallets feel more pinch than a fat man in a chimney.

Here are four savvy suggestions to save you money and stress this Christmas.

1. The best gifts are personal, not posh.

You don’t have to break the bank to touch the heart. When it comes to gift-giving, thoughtfulness is what counts. For your coffee-loving friends, try sharpie art gift mugs with personalized sayings just for them. Your entrepreneurial sister will love her “Like a Boss” mug, just like your dog-loving coworker will enjoy a “Fur Mama” rendition. For grandparents, nothing means more than a wall calendar filled with photos of grandchildren and family quotes.

2. Planning ahead saves more than hassle.

Santa’s not the only one who needs a list this time of year! Nix unpleasant surprises by writing down each person you need to shop for, along with estimated costs. Once you’ve set a budget, make the most of discounts by subscribing to popular retail websites for insider savings. Many websites offer first-time order discounts to subscribers.

If there is someone special you want to pamper this year, talk to friends or family in advance about chipping in for a group gift. Together, perhaps you and your siblings can make a dream gift for Mom – like a spa visit or weekend getaway – affordable.

3. When it comes to holiday decor, focus on bang for your buck.

Invest in pieces that can be repurposed for year-round use. A small chalkboard can showcase holiday greetings like “Merry and Bright,” and later be used for other seasonal messages like “It’s fall, y’all” or “Happy Easter.” Stretch your dollars even farther with a boxwood wreath, which works around the calendar. You can always punch up the seasonal flare by adding a colorful ribbon.

If you have kids, showcase their crafts! Cut Christmas tree shapes from music paper and string them on red twine for fun and affordable mantle decor, or trim your tree with homemade popcorn garlands for easy, old-world charm.

Last but not least, cranking up your fireplace or lighting a few candles makes for the ultimate seasonal mood-setter. This holiday hack costs next to nothing – you can find glass jar candles at the dollar store for a steal, and pretty them up just as cheaply with a little burlap bow or ribbon.

4. Host wisely.

The dinner table is the ultimate holiday memory-maker. This can put a lot of pressure on the host, but it doesn’t have to! If you’re hosting, plan the grocery budget ahead of time and prioritize your dollars for the most meaningful dishes. If ham is a family tradition, go all out on that and compensate with off-brand green beans.

You can also ask family members or guests to bring a dish to share – this radically cuts costs and gives everyone a chance to bring something they like. Rather than breaking the budget on new tablecloths and serving pieces, borrow tabletop decor from friends and family.

Author Monique Smith is a branch manager for Simmons Bank. This feature was orginally shared in Dec. 2018.