By Eddie Z. and Gladys G., myclubmylife.com Teen Reporters, BGCs of Capistrano Valley (Calif.)

The holidays are coming up and you don’t know what to give to the ones you cherish and care about!? Well, we're going to give you smart shopping tips that can ease your stress and put merry back into the holiday season! We asked some teens from our Club what they were giving as gifts to help you create your shopping list!

• You should set a budget for yourself to determine how much you will actually spend on presents and NOT go over your budget.
• The stores are going to be packed during Black Friday and some of you may even brave the cold just to get that awesome deal on a TV, etc. -- but that’s if you want to fight the crazy crowds! But there are some great deals there!
• Others we talked to have saved up for some amazingly pricey presents for their loved ones! But remember to always check prices online and compare all the stores before you go out and spend your money. If you do buy something and price goes down or another store sells it at a lower cost, bring in the ad because some stores will match the other store's price. You may get a few bucks back!
• Some had come up with GREAT ideas for gifts for their family at a very little cost! They are simply using their talents as their gifts -- from recording a CD filled with music and handing it out or painting a portrait. If you’re not as artistic, you can write a letter with a picture of your family to give thanks. Gifts like these really come from the heart!
• Save and love with Secret Santa! If you have a big family and you don’t want to buy a present for each one of your family members, you could do a "Secret Santa" gift exchange. Secret Santa is an active game that you can do to make your shopping (and spending!) list much smaller. All you need to do is have each family member draw one name and that is the one person you are required to buy gifts for. (Others will understand -- hey, money is tight this year!)

There are a lot of deals and ways to save for the holiday season, but just remember it’s not all about the cost of the present you’re giving. The holidays are about sharing and connecting as well!

Happy gift giving and Happy Holidays!