Gift-giving etiquette
By Amy Brown-Bowers • Bankrate.com

If you don't have much to spend, focus on adding personal touches to the cards or gifts you give -- an extra special wrapping job or personal note is a nice touch, Fox says. If you have no budget at all this year, say in words and cards what you would normally say with gifts.

Gift giving at work
Gift etiquette can be tricky at work, especially when the lines between friend and colleague or boss get blurred.

Before you get started, check out your workplace's gift giving policies. Some companies have guidelines in place when it comes to gift exchanges between clients, employees and colleagues, and you don't want to cross a line inadvertently.

Fox says the most common gaffes people make when it comes to gift giving in the workplace are offering items that are too expensive, too personal or are failed attempts at humour. "Unless you know a person really, really well, the gag gift is usually a big miss," Fox says.

When it comes to colleagues, think about gifts that the whole team can enjoy, like going out together for lunch, getting tickets to a game or making a collective donation to a charity, Mallett suggests.

Consider sticking to small and meaningful tokens for people who have made a difference for you in the workplace. Just be sure to give your thanks in private if you aren't getting something for everyone, Mallett cautions.

And if you want to spread your gratitude and holiday cheer very broadly, consider baking a batch of cookies, Fox says.

Finally, when it comes to the boss, tread carefully. "For a boss, a group gift is much more appropriate. You really shouldn't give a (personal) gift to your boss," Fox says. "It could send a wrong message. Number one, are you sucking up?"

Beware of re-gifting
When it comes to those who are near and dear, the most common mistake usually concerns re-gifting -- when you recycle a gift that was given to you by giving it to someone else.