I always feel a little sheepish about the gross amount of consumerism that goes on this time of year.

Our home is awash with boxes and bags of toys and gifts. On one hand, I feel very blessed. On the other hand, do we really need all this stuff?

I simply remind myself that these are the holidays, and that we don’t live like this every day. And I use this time before the start of the new year to reign in my crazy consumption.

Here are a few ideas to bring you back to post-holiday reality.

Do a little frugal reading. Whenever I feel I’m straying from my frugal ways, I love to page through The Complete Tightwad Gazette, or read some of my favorite frugal blogs. Reading some of their ideas helps me get those creative juices flowing.

Do some brainstorming. Think about the state of your finances. What are some things you’d like to work on? What things are working just fine? Work on some personal finance goals for the upcoming year.

Make a menu. One of the things that goes by the wayside during the holidays is a regular, healthy diet. Write up a simple menu plan for the week, and you’ll feel like you’ve got at least one part of your life under control.

Clean out your closets. Now is a great time to go through your closets and donate things you no longer need.

Forgive yourself. So you spent too much, ate too much, and got to much stuff. It’s in the past. Learn from it, make peace with it, and move on.

What are some ways you get over the consumption blues?