A post-Christmas spending survey conducted by Consumer Reports revealed that U.S. consumers spent an average of $811 on gifts during the 2009 season, which was $112 “over budget” based on the results of its pre-Christmas poll. This first survey found that on average, shoppers planned to spend $699 per household on gifts. About one-fifth of respondents ended up spending $1,000 or more on gifts.

Consumer Reports found that overall, 81 percent of consumers purchased gifts, although this figure rose to 94 percent when households earning over $100,000 were factored in. Twenty-six percent of households earning less than $50,000 did not purchase Christmas gifts.

A slip of paper recording a £5 bet between two generals over the military fate of Europe in the Second World War is expected to fetch £12,000 at auction.

General Bernard Montgomery of the British Army took a break from re-organising he Eighth Army in Italy to make a bet with his American comrade, General Dwight Eisenhower, about when the war would end.

Eisenhower, who oversaw the Allied invasion of Italy, felt confident he could march to Berlin by Christmas 1944, but Montgomery thought little of his chances.

A woman who left her remote home in the Scottish Highlands to buy a turkey for Christmas has finally been able to get back home – 30 days after she set out.

Heavy snow meant it was not possible for Kay Ure to get back to Cape Wrath after a shopping trip to Inverness.

The 54-year-old and her husband John live in the Lighthouse Keeper’s cottage at Cape Wrath, on Britain’s north western tip, where they run a cafe.

Bad weather meant Mrs Ure could not complete the last 11 miles home.

I made a very obvious discovery this Christmas season; that no matter how much we try, say and attempt to create a stress free season, it seems to never simplify but gets worse with every passing year. I hear so many people say “this year I am going to do things different”, but to no avail. The stores fill more and more with potential gifts, cards and stocking stuffers. How did we lose our way, the true meaning of the birth of our lord and savior? I want to see if I can crack the code to making a Christmas different. It is too late this year to start seeing what good can be done this season, but we have a whole year to figure out what we can do differently. I can’t change how other people deal with this time of year, but I really want to examine how I can make a difference. I challenge you, the reader, to do the same.

Plan ahead for the holiday season by opening a Christmas Club account now.

After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, a slower-paced start to the New Year is welcome relief for most consumers. But as credit card bills arrive in the mail, January can also bring stress to those who shopped ‘til they dropped during the holidays.