While Christmas is supposed to be a joyful time, it often becomes very stressful as we try to find just the right Christmas gift for everyone on our lists. It used to be that you would simply buy for your close family members, then you started to add on your friends, then the neighbors, then your kids' teachers - and the list goes on! Before you head to the mall, it's best to know how much you're willing to spend on each Christmas gift and to make a list so you don't get side tracked. If you're coming up short on ideas - here are some ideas for everyone on your list.

For your mother and/or father: Moms and Dads seem to appreciate gifts that come from the heart - whether you're 5 or 55. This year, think about getting them a keepsake that's special to your family. If you're interested in scrapbooking, you could put together a scrapbook with pictures from your childhood, your graduation, your wedding, your children's births and more. Or, to make it extra special, you could buy all of the necessary supplies and give them to Mom and Dad with the promise that you'll help them put it together.

For your spouse: Spouses sometimes forget to think of each other during this stressful time of year, so why not give a Christmas gift of relaxation. You could give your spouse a gift certificate for a massage, or better yet - plan a long weekend getaway - away from the kids and all the worries of life. If your budget is limited, some ideas for cheap Christmas gifts include making your own gift certificates for a massage or a dinner, or buying some inexpensive candles and bubble bath and setting up a romantic, relaxing bath for two.

For your kids: Let's face it, finding a Christmas gift for your children usually isn't that hard. They each have a list a mile long. The key here is to prioritize the list and comparison shop online for the latest toys. You'll often find better deals and better availability than at the big toy stores at the mall.

For your neighbors: Whether you have budgetary concerns or not, one of the best, cheap Christmas gifts for neighbors is the gift of homemade Christmas cookies or other goodies. Best of all, you can get the whole family involved in baking and decorating the cookies. Just buy some inexpensive Christmas packages to put the cookies in and hand them out around the neighborhood. Everyone loves Christmas cookies!

For your child's teacher: First of all, no more holiday mugs. Your child's teacher has probably received more coffee mugs as over his or her tenure than he or she knows what to do with. Teachers love to receive a Christmas gift that is something from the class or that benefits the class. Why not get together with some other parents and put together a class photo album for the teacher, with pictures of all of the students and little notes from the students about what they like best about their teacher? Or, if coordinating a group effort seems like a lot of work, think of some of the teacher's interests and donate to a charity based on those interests in the teacher's name.

So make your list and stick to it. And remember, Christmas should be a happy time, not one fraught with stress. So pick a Christmas gift and stick to it - no second guessing, no worrying. Above all - remember to spread the joy of Christmas in all you do.