Making a list and a budget side by side is helpful too. An example:

$40 ~ Grandma ~ blanket and book
$20 ~ girlfriend ~ Starbucks coffee mug and ground coffee
$10 ~ DS's teacher ~ Glade 3 wick soy candle
$0 ~ hostess gifts for parties ~ items from stockpile
$40 ~ baking supplies for cookies, pies, cakes
$10 ~ DH's friend ~ red wine bottle
$40 ~ paper supplies ~ bows, tape, paper, ect....
$100 ~ DS's gifts
_____________
$240 total expense

* this is just a made up list and costs*

Make a detailed list and then stick to the list. Try to get items on sale, watch the ads and Black Friday deals. Change some of the gift items depending on the sales. Don't even bring your credit cards with you when you go shopping and then you won't be able to use them.

Co-Forum Leader for the Welcome Center and Squeeze Back