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When November draws around and it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, our televisions begin to assault us with commercials for Christmas gifts. The only correct way to tell your special lady what she means to you is for you to buy this diamond! The perfect gift for your husband is a gigantic plasma flat screen TV! For the kids, Xbox systems and drum sets! Of course you can spare the thousands of dollars! The economy is not so bad!

My stomach requires a constant dose of Pepto-Bismol during the holiday months. Thanks to the propaganda of the big corporations, gift-giving seems stressful but it doesn't have to be. Gift-giving should be a positive thing.

Firstly, a gift should be a reminder to the recipient that he or she is important to you. It shouldn't be like a homework assignment due on Christmas or birthdays. From homemade pottery to little elephant figurines, I love it when someone gives me something that shows they know who I am and the things I like.

It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to find out what gadgets your friends like. When you spend time with the person and go out to various places, you can decipher from that alone the kind of things that would be a great present. For instance, if you and your girlfriend are out shopping, and you see she's always popping into Crate and Barrel to look at that cute red custard dish, that might be something to take note of. Or maybe you and your friend go to the movies a lot, or watch a lot at home. Perhaps a movie poster of that person's favorite flick? My boyfriend and I were at a friend's home for dinner one night, and I noticed he marveled the panini press in the kitchen. I took note of it, and eight months later I got him one for his birthday. He was elated. Simple observation can go so far!

Another thing to remember is that it doesn't require a specific date on a calender to give someone a present. You could be out looking for some foods for your latest house party when you stumble upon a bottle of sparkling red wine. You remember; my friend, Elaine, loves this stuff! So you grab it for her. Simple gestures like this mean a lot to people. I happen to love elephants, and sometimes my friend Mary will find a candle shaped like an elephant, or perhaps a figurine. I know those things only cost a few bucks, but it makes me feel important to get such a random gift.

Lastly, never look down your nose to a handmade gift. Especially while in this recession, money is not so readily available for gifts and other frivolities. During college, I made hundreds of mix CDs. I cranked out tons of playlists pertaining to the individuals that they were meant for. It was, yes, fairly inexpensive, but very time-consuming. I also used to paint small canvas pictures as gifts. My boyfriend's brother gives his pottery as gifts, and I think they're fantastic. One of my best friends one year when her funds were especially low, made stuffed animals from the scraps and buttons she could find. I remember these gifts vividly because they came from something more than the wallet-they came from time and hard work and creativity.

That's the whole reason to give gifts: to show people how much they mean to you. Ultimately, it isn't the amount of money you spent or the size of the present itself. It's the thought that counts.

Learn more about this author, Kelly Fuller.
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