I used to think that budgeting was for pansies. Why meticulously keep track of every cent when you can haphazardly navigate through your finances and hoping for the best when you check out your bank account? Since that lobotomy my feelings on budgeting have swung like a pendulum from one end of the spectrum to the other and now I have spreadsheets and I plan. The sky is suddenly brighter and I also have my sense of smell back now that I don’t feel like I’m being slowly suffocated by dollar bills.

I’ve noticed that the rate at which the Holidays arrive continues to be more and more expeditious as one gets older or at least that is how I was feeling when Thanksgiving arrived unexpectedly and there in front of me was a tray of stuffing and I was all “hmm, what is this about?’ So now it’s the season of perpetual gift giving and while I appreciate all of the gift guides that are popping up, we, as consumers also need to remember the fine art of budgeting. Right now it is imperative to embrace the excel spreadsheet and spread the love of not being in the black to everyone, not just retail stores.

Since I helped to perpetrate the art of spending for the holidays via kick ass gift guide, it is now my duty to share three of my favorite pointers for keeping within budget when buying for your favorite geek, mom or holiday sweater clad grandma:

1) Just because you have more money doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be keeping track of it this is why I feel like the word ‘budget’ needs to be highlighted, in caps, in 42 point Font and flashing java script around it:

Barbara Steinmetz, president of Steinmetz Financial Planning in Burlingame, Calif., is quite familiar with watching her Silicon Valley clientele get into hot water around the holidays. "The more money you have, the less you keep track of it," she notes.

While most of us don't have that problem, Steinmetz says many people seem to have temporary financial blindness when the time comes to purchase presents.

2) Gift cards are proof that God loves us. Ok technically it is wine that is proof that God loves us but don’t tell me that getting $15 from Target isn’t the greatest thing ever. Because when you’re broke after spending all of your money on Holiday presents, you’ll still be able to afford toilet paper:

Finally, I can totally identify with the last-minute shopper. I hate shopping so I put it off as long as possible. But your procrastination can make you desperate. In your desperation, you end up busting your holiday budget because you don't have the time or patience to comparison-shop. Two words: gift cards.

3) I just bought half of the stuff I needed, including a little something for myself, off of Amazon.com. The Internet in general is a great place that is full of mystery, wonder and helpful Holiday budgeting tips (AHEM). It is also full of sales and coupons that don’t require giving your neighbor a deviated septum while rushing to the 40% off cashmere table in Old Navy. Use the Internet to your advantage and it doesn’t require talking to anyone or catching germs:

Don't pay full price for anything. The internet is so wonderful. Last week I pulled a coupon off of JCPenney.com because I wanted to buy something for my husband. The coupon promised $10 off for any purchase over $50. I was a little skeptical that it would work... all those exceptions and all, but it did work so I saved $10 just by looking online before I went shopping. This got me thinking.... how many other stores offer coupons online?