Scary story time: You give someone a thoughtful gift certificate, maybe for a massage at the spa they have been eyeing, or for the drawing class they have been talking about wanting to take. You lay out the cash, give them the card. They are thrilled! They thank you. And then, they don't use it.

You probably spend a month or more before the holidays trying to figure out what kinds of gifts to get for people without them finding out. The surprise is half the fun. However, you might be better of just asking.

Wrapping your gifts to make them look like a holiday card isn't hard if you know the right technique, but a polished-looking bow can be tough to make. Here are five common, easy bow variations that will make your gifts shine.

The holidays usually means a lot of presents, and that means a lot of empty product boxes to get rid of. When you toss out your boxes, make sure you're not showing off all of the expensive items that are now in your home to potential thieves.

A great thank you note is a lot more than a piece of paper with "thank you" written on it. This primer will have you writing thank you notes so good, people will want to give you presents just to receive one.

Let's face it, we've all received gifts that might as well have been lumps of coal. If you're careful enough, you can use these tips to rid yourself of those stinkers and look generous all at once.

Finding meaningful presents for everyone on your list isn't always easy to do, especially if you've procrastinated too long. This simple method will make sure everyone at least gets a present for the holidays.