Some are dreaming of a white Christmas.

Others are busy decking the halls. The rest of us are focused on the true meaning of the holidays.

Presents.

But when you're a young professional, even the $20 office gift exchange can pose a problem. Starting out in the world is too expensive to partake in the gift-giving orgy of our youth.

Take me, for example. It's not that I'm stingy. I simply can't afford the high price tag attached to spreading some holiday cheer.

I purchase gifts of the dollar store, cheap-but-looks-expensive variety.

Make friends with me, and you'll get a pair of discounted jack-o-lantern socks - in your yuletide stocking.

Pity my Jewish friends, who end up getting just one chocolate coin, broken into eight pieces.

I'm not alone.

Many people my age are too taxed with insurance, car payments and first mortgages to shell out major cash on Christmas. Plus, student loan payments never take a holiday.

"Every year I set aside money for Christmas gifts. And every year, I use it for things like food instead," said Casey Wallace, 27, of East Walnut Hills. "I can't give presents when I can't pay the bills."

Jill Hammons, 28, of West Chester, realized that even on shoestring budgets, gift exchanges can't be avoided.

She said it's difficult to splurge on gifts when you think about how many ramen noodles you could buy with that money. But it's even more difficult to splurge knowing that your loved ones don't have that option.

So Hammons picked up a few craft items last weekend to create her own holiday presents.

"I could afford to buy things this year, but my friends can't," she said. "So we're making our gifts this year."

That's not the case with everyone, according to a recent Gallup poll. It says the average 18- to 29-year-old plans to spend $677 on Christmas presents this year. That's up by $108 from last year's poll.

I'm guessing Paris Hilton and her ilk skewed these figures. I don't know anyone who will come close to dropping $677. More like $6.77.

Rubbing salt in the already-in-debt wound, busy young professionals don't have time to hit a multitude of malls to search for perfect gifts.

Norwood resident Jennifer Brewer, 23, tries to combine cheap with crowd avoidance. Her holiday bargains come from outlet stores, and she visits them on less popular shopping days, such as Monday.

"You get deals you can't get anywhere else," she said.

Meanwhile, 24-year-old Matt Hayes would like to do away with the practice altogether.

"I hate everything about Christmas shopping," said the Bridgetown resident.

"I wish I could do all the Christmas present stuff, just not at Christmas."

Maybe you can.

Brewer and her friends found a solution to holiday gift-giving predicaments. They move Christmas forward a month.

The extra days give them enough time to gather sufficient cash to buy some decent gifts. And they reap the benefits of post-holiday sales.

"But it's weird," she said. "Even with the extra time, all of us still end up trying to buy presents at the last minute."

This year, they're thinking of giving their budgets even more time to recover - Christmas will be in February.

E-mail mdowns@enquirer.com