Love it or hate it, 'tis the season to shop. But you don't have to make yourself crazy in the process. Here are some tips that will help you whip through your holiday list.

Be an early bird, or a latecomer. During the next month, many stores will open at 7 a.m. and stay open until late in the evening. Avoid lunch hour and weekends. After 7 p.m. is the least busy time at many malls.

Take advantage of deals. Shopping centers may offer ski lift tickets, gift certificates to restaurants and other perks to shoppers who spend $150 or $200 in one day.

Browse in unexpected places. Look for specialty gifts for drama queens at the performing arts complex; the zoo may stock animal toys. Also try specialty vendors in the malls, hardware stores and craft fairs.

Get expert advice. If you're clueless about what to get Aunt Nancy or your picky teenage nephew, take advantage of the free services of personal shoppers at stores such as Nordstrom. They can help you pick out gifts for family, friends or corporate clients.

"It's important to give detailed information, because the more they know about the person, the better the choices they'll make," says Jorge Valls, Nordstrom spokesman.

Artis Silverman, a Denver consultant, says the key to selecting a gift is to "think of the emotional and sensual needs" of the recipient. "I think it through before I shop and then go hunting for items like unusual accessories," she says. "One year I bought cosmetics brushes with jeweled handles. ... My friends still remind me how much they enjoyed them. People want things that are practical and pretty, but that they might not buy them for themselves."

Be organized. Keep all sales receipts in one envelope. Get a gift receipt when you buy an item and include it with the package in case the recipient needs to make a return.

"Real Simple" magazine suggests creating a holiday binder to keep track of lists, receipts, printouts of online orders, even recipes and catalog pages with ideas.

Take the perks. If a store offers free gift-wrapping with purchases or other promotions, use them.

Don't wait until the last minute to shop online. Shipping charges escalate and stock depletes online just as it does in stores. Make sure the Web site has a secure connection for payment.

Compare prices. This is important for online and in-store purchases on electronics, so you know what price to pay and aren't confused by "suggested" retail prices or a store's "sale" prices.

Try one-stop shopping. If you're pressed for time, shop where you can get something for everyone. A book store, for example, has items for babies and octogenarians.

Silverman likes to shop at Target for the same reason. "They have everything from housewares and great design items by Michael Graves to well-made backpacks and sporting goods," she says.

A grocery store is a good place to buy items in bulk, says Real Simple magazine. Choose a gourmet food item such as olive oil and purchase enough to use as hostess gifts.

Hire a baby sitter. If you have children who impede your speed at ripping through the mall, save yourself time, money and headaches.

If you only need an hour or so to shop, many centers offer drop-in art classes for kids age 3 and up.

Be safe. Remember where you parked your car, park in a well-lit area and hold your car key in your hand as you approach your vehicle. Be aware of your surroundings, keeping an eye out for suspicious people. Don't leave phones, purses or bags of merchandise visible in your car. Don't carry large amounts of cash, and keep money in your front pocket.