As Christmas approaches, we can't help but feel the excitement and anticipation of the season, as the decorations go up, and the carols play, and the air turns colder. It's a season of pageantry and parties, lots of good food and fellowship, and renewed relationships with family and friends. Christmas is also the time that Santa Claus makes his annual visit, leaving lots of presents and goodies for all the good boys and girls.

Most parents are happy to enlist as Santa's helpers during the holiday season. The only people who enjoy Christmas morning as much as little children are their parents. Watching a child see the presents under the tree, for the first time on Christmas morning is one of the most wonderful sights for any parent. A few weeks later, though, when the bills arrive, many moms and dads wish that Santa hadn't been quite so generous.

Parents could save themselves a lot, each year, if they'd do their homework before shopping. Once they know exactly what their children want for Christmas-something most parents are well aware of by Halloween-a little bit of price comparison might reveal some real deals, available. Reading the shopping inserts in the Sunday paper are a great way to study prices.

Parents might find the best deals online for the most sought-after toys, especially early in the shopping season. Often the retailers who have stores in the mall also have extensive internet presence, and sporadic deals which are only found on their web pages. The cost of shipping is an added expense with online shopping, but sales tax is usually nonexistent.

When shopping for their kids, parents should never leave the house without a list, even if they know exactly what they're going to purchase. As they shop, then, parents should keep a written account of exactly how much they're spending. Being able to see the numbers, in black and white, can curb the temptation to buy too much extra stuff.

Once the Christmas shopping for the kids is done, parents need to put it out of their minds until Christmas morning. Too often, parents want to add that extra little spark to their kids' Christmas day, so they find themselves, at the last minute, running back to the store for just a little more. Then they exceed the budget, and usually wind up buying something that gets thrown away soon after it's opened.

Parents should make Christmas as wonderful as they can, without succumbing to the constant pressure they feel to overindulge. Breaking the bank in December won't make you or your kids happier, in the long run. The main thing you'll remember about Christmas, anyway is the love you and your family share, and you can't pay for that.

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Imaginary Greetings is dedicated to intensifying the Christmas excitement and experience in children worldwide. You can compose that for your children with letters from Santa.