The key to successful Christmas shopping is to organize yourself prior to hitting the mall. Following are some of my favorite holiday shopping ideas that will help you 'sale' through your holiday spending.

Prepare A List
Planning ahead is a must. Take the time to prepare a Christmas shopping list. Write down everyone?s name and the gift ideas you have for each person. Include hobbies, sizes and favorite colors. Put a dollar value on each gift and which store you have a realistic hope of finding it in.

Organize List by Category
Now take a few minutes to organize your gift list by category rather than person. Doing this eliminates the need to go back and forth between retail shops and departments within stores.

Set a Shopping Date
Decide on a date and time preferably at least a month before Christmas to go shopping. Early mornings are best. Avoid peak time like Saturdays and Sundays. Weekday mornings are good but if daytime shopping is impossible, go shopping after work.

Hire A Sitter
Christmas shopping with children is counterproductive. You?ll save enough money, time and energy to offset the cost of a sitter.

Competitor Flyer Shopping
Take the sale flyers with you to conveniently-located competitors. Most retailers are so competitive these days that they will gladly match or beat the sale prices of their competitors. Ask at the customer service dept. The advantages to you are convenience, and not having to confront frequently 'sold out' signs and empty bins for sale merchandise because of the demand the sale item may bring.

Don't Shop When you're Hungry
Christmas shopping is like grocery shopping. Never go when you?re tired or hungry. If you?re cranky or needing a nap, you?re going to buy whatever you can find and then make a beeline home.

Use Personal Shopper Services
Use the personal shopper service many department stores offer. They can tell you by phone if an item is in stock and exactly where it is located.

Devise A Shopping Strategy
Consult your phone book for a directory of the mall stores so you can plan your strategy in advance. Knowing the stores ahead of time may inspire some gift ideas. You might even want to place a call to find out about services such as Christmas gift wrapping, lockers, stroller rentals (only if you can?t find a sitter) and whether or not there is a coat check.

Avoid Heavy Outerwear
Coat storage is a biggie ? it is vitally important not to get overheated in your pursuit to find just the right gifts. Ditch the winter jacket and wear only a sweater. No coat check? Leave your winter coat at home so you won?t get overloaded carrying all your packages and your coat.

Wear Supportive Footwear
Supportive cushioned walking shoes or cross-trainers are best.

Prevent Back And Leg Strain
Shift your weight from one foot to the other and your parcels from hand to hand. Every once and a while stand on your toes to stimulate your muscles and circulation.

Keep Energized With Healthy Snacks
Pack some healthy snacks like trail mix and granola bars so you won?t have to stop for something to eat in a busy food court. Take along some water to avoid headaches, fatigue, and thirst which are often mistaken for hunger.

Take Breaks
Or, if you have decided to spend the whole day Christmas shopping - breaks will be necessary. Grab something healthy to eat and relax a bit. Sitting down and nourishing yourself will do wonders to reinvigorate you. But, don?t push yourself by shopping until you drop. If you managed to tackle your first shopping outing well in advance of the big day, there are still plenty of shopping days left. You don?t have to do it all at once.

Shop from Home
Christmas shopping online or via mail-order is another option and one you can do in the comfort of your own home. Not only does it cut down on your in-person shopping, it can also save you money and time. A word to the wise, there are a few questions you need to ask. Can you return merchandise for cash or do you only get a credit note? Is shipping included in the cost or is it extra? Incidentals like these can boost the true cost of your purchase.

Keep a Tape Measure On Hand
Keeping a tape measure by the phone or the computer is recommended especially for household items as it helps you visualize dimensions.

Place A Test Order
If you plan on doing a lot of Christmas shopping from one catalogue but are unfamiliar with the company you may wish to order something ahead of time to check the quality of merchandise. As an active buyer and seller on eBay, I know how photographs can be misleading.

Create A Catalogue File
If you like the convenience of catalogues but hate all the clutter, organize them in a paper expanding folder. Take the time to look through each Christmas catalogue as it comes in. Remove the order form and the attached envelope. When you see something you like, tear out the page and put it in the folder. Toss the rest of the catalogue. Now if there will be some time between clipping the page and actually placing the order, you may want to make note of when the catalogue expires.