Despite my frantic pleading with my calendar to tell me something else, Thanksgiving is only a week away... and after that, it's the breakneck-pace Holiday Season until we hit 2010. It's the most wonderful frantic time of the year, and often one that ends up being expensive, too.

People talk about spending less money over the holidays -- whether out of necessity (hello, recession!) or simple mindfulness -- and people talk about being more eco-conscious and people talk about being more charity-minded. I hear these conversations all around me, and they're good ones to have. These are all topics close to my heart. But the one on my mind today comes from increasingly hearing folks insist that they can't participate in charitable giving, owing to their own budgetary constraints.

I could talk about charity all day long; my views on the necessity of sharing whatever you have as both a matter of citizenship in a global community and as a somewhat selfish soul-feeding activity are probably another topic for another time, though. What I want to talk about today is the fact that everyone can engage in charitable giving, and it needn't be expensive.

And after all, 'tis the season, right?

Pick one or more of these five options, and you'll be on your way to both giving of yourself and staying within your means.

1) Give your time. As a freelancer, I'll be the first to tell you that time is money, but even those of us who are constantly overextended can probably find the time to ring the Salvation Army bell for half an hour or go serve dinner at a soup kitchen one night. If it matters to you, you'll find the time. Bonus: I find this a fabulous way to spend time with someone I really love. For me, I love participating in charitable activities with one or both of my kids (little kids love the bell, if you do the Salvation Army thing), or with a dear friend. Kelly Turner of twirlit suggests this avenue amongst her holiday budgeting tips.

2) Shop for a cause. When you do spend money on stuff, do it in a way that benefits a cause you support. As much as I detest the school fundraisers my kids are often roped into, it's a good time to knock a few gifts off the list -- you get the things you need, the kids' school gets the kickback. Many schools and churches sponsor holiday fairs where you can make purchases that benefit a specific organization. Through Katey at My CF Journey With God I discovered that GoodSearch also has a shopping section called GoodShop, where your regular online shopping with major retailers can benefit the charity of your choice.

3) Make something yummy for someone who needs it, or as a general thank-you. If you know of a family that's struggling, the next time you make a pan of lasagna, make two, and drop one off. Share your holiday meal leftovers. Or take a tip from Laverty's Landing and bake some cookies for your local firefighters or police officers -- Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve are great days to make those deliveries with a heartfelt thank-you.

4) Make a difference in a child's life. There's countless charities that benefit kids at the holidays, many that won't cost you much. Toys for Tots, Angel Tree, and various local programs that collect toys should be kept in mind all year; pick up extras when you find the good sales, and you can brighten kids' lives with just a little foresight. My favorite bang-for-my-buck charity for the kids is Operation Christmas Child, because my kids love filling the shoeboxes (we get most of the stuff at the Dollar Store), it doesn't cost much, and the boxes go all over the world. From Aura's pictures of the boxes she packed brought a huge smile to my face! (Isn't her knitting darling?)

5) Consider swapping out gifts for donations. Unfortunately, a lot of people feel it's just not the holidays without stuff. But if you have a family game to play Secret Charity Santa, you can draw names and then go on a mission to donate the money you would've spent on a gift on a charitable donation that would be meaningful to the recipient, instead. This one could be an interesting family-building exercise as well as a charitable endeavor! Carrie of Lovely Living is vowing to practice restraint in her gift-buying this year, and instead of buying more stuff, donating that money to charity, instead.

What will you be doing to be both charitable and frugal this year?

BlogHer Contributing Editor Mir also blogs about issues parental and otherwise at Woulda Coulda Shoulda, and about the joys of mindful retail therapy at Want Not.