One of the best ways to relieve stress at Christmas and still get meaningful gifts for your siblings is to start early. If your family draws names for Christmas, have them do so during the summer so you have time to prepare. If your family rotates as to who buys for who, you can start as early as you want. If you are buying for everyone, it is even more important to start early. Make your list of siblings you are buying for. Give yourself a budget for gifts and start listening.

Step #2: Listen.

Start listening to your siblings. They have wants and desires, favorite colors and music, and things that make their personality their own. Make notes as to what they want, the things they are currently interested in, their hobbies, and their dreams. Meaningful gifts come from study of what someone truly wants. Sometimes the satisfying the surface desires has meaning, like buying the latest action figure for a little brother, but sometimes what your sibling really wants they won't express on their wish lists. Take an active roll of listening if you really want to strengthen your sibling relationship through the gifts you give at Christmas.

Step #3: Make it Personal.

Whatever you end up purchasing or making for your siblings, personalize it. If you get one of them a book or CD, write a personal note in the front. If the action figure is going to the little brother, give him a box with his name on it to keep all the extra pieces in. Whatever gift you give, find a way to personalize it. Personalizing a gift makes it much more meaningful than just giving your sibling something they might like. Something as simple as getting hangars to go with the new clothes you bought a little sister tells her you are thinking specifically of her and her needs. If you don't make time to shop for something special, make whatever you get special by personalizing it.

Step #4: Make it Uncommon.

If you are having a hard time finding a gift that will satisfy that hard-to-shop-for sibling, try making something. Taking an everyday object and putting an effort into making it one-of-a-kind will make your efforts go farther. Take a favorite picture of your hard-to-buy-for sibling, enlarge it and have it printed in black and white. Mat and frame it. Find other common objects such as vases, posters, furniture, etc. and put an effort in to make them unique to give as gifts to your siblings. A little silver leafing on a vase, an old movie poster printed in sepia tones and framed, or a handmade pillow for an arm chair can be unique gifts that reflect your sibling's personality and style.

Step #5: Give with Heart.

When you actually give your gifts to your siblings, take the time to watch them open it, celebrate with them, give them a hug and tell them how much you were thinking about them when you got/made the gift. The way you give your gift can hold as much meaning as the gift itself.