AJ stands for Andrew Jackson, our 7th president. His reputation for toughness earned him the nickname "Old Hickory." A hero of the War of 1812, Jackson has appeared on the $20 bill since 1928.

Get the facts on holiday gift giving. Gift Giving in the U.S.

• Americans send 1.9 million Christmas cards to family and friends every year. This makes Christmas the largest card-giving occasion in the U.S.
• Gift recipients throw out 38,000 miles of ribbon (enough to tie a bow around the Earth) each year.
• The average American spends $800 on gifts over the holiday seasons.

Source: RecycleWorks.org.

CloseThe holidays are approaching. Do you want to be like the average American, who overspends on gifts every December?

These costs can make the season more stressful than it should be.

You shouldn't be worrying about how much money you spent on the gift for your best friend. That takes away from the best aspects of the season—food, family, and friends.

Instead, make a simple holiday budget and follow it. You'll save money and enjoy your stress-free holiday.

Avoid the hassles

Shopping for gifts should be fun, easy, and affordable. That's the exact opposite of the complete hassle that it tends to be. To make it easier, decide:

• How much money you want to spend
• Who you want to give gifts to
• What you want to give them

Write down the answers to those questions. This is the first part in creating a personal budget...

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