The holidays offer a time for families to indulge in too much sugar and exchange gifts. With the season of gift giving in full force, it’s time to start planning. Sometimes gift giving is harder than expected — especially for the opposite sex. Take a peek at the tips below to ease the stress of holiday shopping.

First, create a budget. It’s easy to get carried away on spending when a budget isn’t set. If you’re exchanging gifts with friends, it’s also a good idea to set a limit that can’t be surpassed. Within the budget, allocate how much can be spent on each person or gift. While it’s easy for stores to tempt more shopping, stick to the budget.

Second, make a list of gift ideas for each person before heading out to the mall or online shopping. Not having a list will lead to a much longer shopping experience and unnecessary spending.

Try browsing gift guides in magazines or online for ideas. Urban Outfitters has a “gifts” section full of ideas for both him and her, including clothing, gadgets, art and more. Try to pick a gift that will be useful in his or her daily life, rather than one that will collect dust in the corner. Stores such as Amazon, Macy’s, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s house gift sections on their websites.

The gift can either be something to adorn a room, an electronic product, gift cards, clothes, but make sure to get the right size, or simply food because who doesn’t love a box of chocolates?

Like many college students, store-bought gifts aren’t in the budget this holiday season. However, do-it-yourself gifts with a personal touch are just as loved by family and friends.

Shopping online and DIY gifts are a great way to avoid the mall chaos during the holidays. Also consider browsing Pinterest and YouTube for homemade holiday ideas. Almost all of the ideas include helpful tutorials.

Be sure to compare prices between different brands and browse the sale ads.

Third, determine what gifts can be purchased online or in-store. Online shopping creates an easier way to compare prices. Coupon sites are also available to help lower the prices of online shopping, whether it be on the purchases or the shipping. Browse sites such as RetailMeNot, DealHunting and CouponCabin for deals.

Finally, choose the perfect gift wrap that represents the holidays or the recipient’s personality. Stores such as Von Maur also offer free gift wrapping that should definitely be taken advantage of. Both online and store-bought gifts can be wrapped for free. When making a purchase at a store, ask for gift boxes to make the wrapping process a little easier. Many options are available to purchase wrapping paper or gift bags, including Hobby Lobby and Target.

Holiday shopping is a great way to show appreciation and love for family and friends. Remember to follow the budget, make a list and consider different options.