With all the stress and high expectations surrounding the holidays, it's easy to get overwhelmed and lose sight of what makes this time of year so special. This becomes abundantly clear when you are standing shoulder to shoulder with 100 desperate shoppers all vying for the last must-have gadget or fantastic sale item.

Also check out... Time-Saving Tips for the Holidays 20-Minute Workouts for the Holiday... Tips for a Nearly Stress-Free Christmas Meaningful Holiday Traditions to...

The pressure of picking out the perfect gift for each person on your list, and then actually acquiring those items can seem daunting. But it doesn't have to be that way! By getting a decent head start and applying some organization to your shopping mission, you can survive the holidays with your holiday spirit still in tact.

Start Early

Every holiday guide mentions not waiting until the last minute to start shopping, yet every year hordes of frantic, blurry-eyed consumers flood into shopping malls and big box stores at the last possible moment. While you don't have to get all of your holiday shopping done by December 1, getting a head start is never a bad idea.