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Is 2007 the year you really have to tighten your belt? Perhaps money is scarce this year because of rising prices in the economy - the price of gas, food, clothing, education, or rents and mortgages. Maybe unemployment or illness struck you or your household. There could be any number of reasons why money is tight, but buying gifts for your loved ones doesn't have to be hopeless or depressing.

If you want to stick with family tradition and give to all your loved ones at Christmas, you need to find ways to do it without falling into bankruptcy after the holidays. Let's see if we can come up with a plan.

- Budget! Basic and necessary, you first need to decide (realistically) what amount you will have for Christmas gifts. Don't be tempted to spend any of that amount on Christmas goodies for yourself or decorations for your home while you're shopping - I know how easy that is! Your Christmas budget money is for just that - for gifts.

- Don't forget to include a donation at church for the poor. This is a way to include everyone, especially those who need your help more than ever.

- After you have your total on paper for the amount you will spend, make a list of the people you will gift. This can be done easily by starting with your priority people.

- Divide your total amount of Christmas money by the number of people to see what you will spend on each person. I used to allow more for spouse at about $100, and parents, perhaps $50 each. Our own children would be allowed $100 each. Siblings, $25. Friends, $25 for close friends, $10 for acquaintances. Only a small circle of friends would be included as recipients. Bosses, pastors, would get $15 allotted in the budget.

If you're single - grandparents, parents, and siblings come first. Siblings' children are next. Friends are next, because you will no doubt be creative about what to buy inexpensively, or to make for them. In other words, gift your immediate family first.

If you're married - your spouse and children come first, then parents and grandparents, then siblings' families and their children. However, many families begin to cut back on gifts for extended family members when they find there are getting to be too many to gift. In that case, keep it to spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and consider family gifts for others (see below.) Lastly, you can gift your friends, using creativity to keep individual gifts inexpensive.

- Family gifts. It is less expensive to buy a family gift that all will enjoy rather than

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