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

The early holiday sales are a stark reminder for those who have been distracted by other concerns that it's time to start working on your shopping list. And while gift giving can be a great source of joy for many shoppers, it is also a great source of social and personal stress.

The hidden landmines, the potential breaches of etiquette and the fear of offending people can overwhelm even the most well-intentioned holiday shopper.

To help guide you through the holiday season, here are some tips on how to decide who to buy for, how much to spend and what to buy.

The basics of building the list
When trying to decide who to buy for during the holiday season, Karen Mallett, president of Civility Works, suggests going back to the basics of giving. "Number one, think of the reason why you're buying," she says. "Buying gifts for the holiday season is not about ulterior motives. It's about trying to express your care for someone."

Start your list with those who are most important to you and those who have had a big impact on your life over the past year and build from there, Mallett advises.

When brainstorming gift ideas, use common sense and err on the side of caution. "The gift should be on par with the relationship," says Louise Fox, owner of Toronto-based The Etiquette Ladies. "If it's somebody that you don't have a serious or ongoing or developed relationship with, the gift should reflect that. The gift should reflect the level of intimacy in the relationship."

Avoid giving gifts that are overly personal or overly expensive to people you don't know very well.

When it comes to your budget, only spend what you can afford. Especially with the current market turmoil, "a person shouldn't feel obligated to spend a certain amount of money that they don't necessarily have," Fox says.