As my friends and I sat around a kitchen table Sunday afternoon, picking names out of a plastic cup, it became very apparent that the holidays are almost here.

    And this, my first Secret Santa exchange of the year, is usually a telltale sign of what’s to come — bargain-hunters lined up at 4 a.m. on Black Friday (some of my friends and family included), long lines for the last-minute shopper in me and a higher-than-expected credit card bill.

    I’ve been known to go a little overboard at the holidays. Not in my decorating, of course, which scantly consists of a 4-foot-tall fake tree and a few knickknacks, but in my gift giving. There’s only one thing I love more than shopping for myself — shopping for the people I love. Going a tad bit overboard, especially when it comes to my nieces and nephews, is part of my holiday ritual.

    This year, though, I don’t anticipate that happening. I am faced with the same reality as everyone else. Things are going to be a little tight this year, and while there definitely will be gifts to give, I’ll have to practice a little more self control in my favorite stores.

    Some things we should all keep in mind:

    While I may not be able to shower my family and friends with a multitude of gifts as in years past, that doesn’t mean I love them any less.

    Local businesses have a direct impact on our local economy. When you are making your list and checking it twice, come up with some gift ideas that you can purchase in our local stores.

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    On another economic front, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner announced Monday that projected revenues have been reduced by $151.7 million for the fiscal year 2009 and $303.7 million in fiscal year 2010.

    That’s a ton of money the state won’t see and I wish them lots of luck in trying to make the appropriate cuts. But it begs the question: Does that surprise anyone?

    The state is one of the largest employers of Delaware citizens. In more affluent times, taxpayers may have looked the other way when it came to over-employed departments. But when the taxpayers are the ones doing their best to cut their own costs — energy, grocery bills and the like — the state needs to do the same thing.

    It’s about time the state of Delaware started clipping coupons and making sacrifices like the rest of us.

    The only bright spot lately is the falling price of gas. Let’s see how long that lasts. In the meantime, I’m half-tempted to set up a huge gasoline tank in my backyard and fill up now. It’s amazing what a few cents here and there can add up to, especially considering my husband’s 100-mile daily commute.

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    When reporters go out on assignment, we don’t always know what to anticipate. News Editor Jeff Brown had the opportunity to meet several veterans at Campus Community School in Dover last week as he covered a Veterans Day event at the Dover school. What he didn’t expect was to join the ranks of the presenters.

    Another veteran was needed to talk to fifth-graders about what it’s like to be in the military, and Jeff, a retired active duty Air Force master sergeant, was happy to oblige.

    Having worked with Jeff for years and heard some of his interesting tales from his many stations around the world, I’m sure the students at Campus Community learned a lot this Veterans Day from him and the other service members.

Email Maureen Raitz at maureen.raitz@doverpost.com.