One thing is for sure - saying thank you is a nice thing to do. It makes you feel good, and makes the receiver feel valued. We may not subscribe to the hand written parchments of old, with ruler straight lines and wafty words of gratitude penned from inky quills, but we do still subscribe to basics of liking to give and liking to be thanked.

It's now the middle of January, which means that we've been in the New Year now for two weeks and if you're like me then you've been breathing a sigh of relief as you start to get back into your regular routine, as you've waved goodbye to that festive devil that is otherwise known as Christmas.

During this season charity fund raisers actively appeal for the disadvantaged. They almost universally don't ask for presents - much preferring you donate cash - because this is pragmatically the most useful contribution you could make. If it's obviously more helpful than other gifts in the domain of charity, so economists remain perplexed as to the irrational paradox of continuing to buy each other 'suboptimal' presents?

If this Christmas "state of mind" helps free us from stress during the holiday season wouldn't we want to keep bringing out these same spiritual elements in our lives throughout the year?

Buying a Christmas gift for your loved ones can often be the most difficult, which is why many of us leave it to the final few days to make that special purchase. The pressure to 'get it right' and to know the receiver better than they know themselves is high.

Christmas is traditionally quite a gendered holiday, especially when it comes to children. Here are some lovely dolls to buy for the girls in your life, and some toy dinosaurs for the boys. And don't forget about the miniature cooking utensils and vacuum cleaners - learning how to keep house is, of course, all girls really want and need.

Despite the record sales on Cyber Monday and a predicted spike on Christmas Eve, 42% of British shoppers plan to buy some of their Christmas presents after December 25.

It's that time of year again: Christmas carollers are on our street corners, shopping centres are open longer and later, and Santa is in annual residency in the High Street shops. For many parents in Austerity Britain however, Christmas will be a time of worry and stress.

35 years later and another jet-pack-free Christmas is upon me, but this isn't the only way in which the future has failed to live up to expectations. These days we might be able to get everything now, but how much of it is worth having?

They say Christmas is about giving, about sharing and about being with the ones you love, which is a load of sentimental old tosh. It's about getting drunk, receiving underwear you wouldn't be caught dead in and tolerating behavior from people you normally wouldn't be seen dead with.

I know that for lots of people the thought of wrapping up hundreds of Christmas presents fills them with dread, but this doesn't have to be the case. I believe there are ways to make it quick, easy and fun!

I'm not Christian and I don't celebrate Christmas. A number of English friends have informed me that I'm wrong: "everyone" celebrates Christmas and it's not a religious holiday. I think many Christians would beg to differ.

Gifts that show you care about your loved ones and your bank balance.

There has never been a better selection of books on the subject of whisky, due to the massive increase in popularity of whisky as a subject and the number of people exploring the world of whisky for the first time.

After buying Champagne for breakfast, salmon bininies for whenever no one's looking, more sides than your table is physically capable of and so many p...

My husband and I have decided to let our children believe in Santa Claus. We entertain the idea by leaving out milk and cookies on Christmas Eve, by suggesting they could go on the Naughty List if they misbehave and on Christmas morning, one of the presents for them is from Santa.