The funnest time of year (if you're a child), the most stressful time of year (if you're an adult)? Given that it rolls around in an unrelenting fashion every 12 months the only real option is to embrace it... with a little pre-planning. And if you're braving the big city department stores, check out the  Handbands website to see how we can help keep your family safe.

The kids might like to have fun with wristbands and keychains, dog tags and more at the same time.

Budget ideas:

1.Movie afternoons at home with their friends... and a big bucket of popcorn. They don't need the latest release to entertain them, and you don't need the $100 cost of an afternoon at the movies. Let them have a few treats and leave them to their own devices with a big screen tv and a DVD.

2. Food, glorious food. Yes, they want feeding - vast amounts of it - during the holiday season so make it easy on yourself by hitting the oven with a huge baking day and then keep the kids happy with lots of home-baked (cheap) goodies.

3. I'm bored. Get ready for a lot of that... and do a little pre-planning to combat the world's most popular child word during holidays. Does your local library run a holiday program? Does local council have holiday activities on their website. Most do. Book 'em in, and let the peace reign supreme.

Are you in a local club? Then consider the new Tyvek single use handbands. Print them with whatever you like, and wrap them around the wrist of activity attendees.