Consumer stress levels tend to rise when the holiday shopping season hits.

Therefore, any advantage a shopper can get before embarking can help take the edge off the experience.

Several websites offer a variety of useful holiday shopping and purchasing advice, from payment options and budgeting considerations to time management.

Here are a few sites worth a visit:

•Consumer Reports: Contains useful insights on devising a strategy for holiday shopping. consumerreports.org/cro/money/shopping/shopping-tips/holiday-shopping/overview/index.htm

•Better Business Bureau: Offers eight tips to manage the hectic shopping season shopping. newyork.bbb.org/bbb-shopping-tips-for-the-holiday-buying-rush/

•Everything Christmas: Spotlights 10 tips for avoiding holiday shopping lines. everythingchristmas.com/story/tipsavoidline.html

•Federal Trade Commission: Provides advice on getting the best deal through online shopping during the holidays. ftc.gov/opa/2011/11/holidayshopping.shtm

•National Foundation for Credit Counseling: Features guidelines to help keep holiday shopping stress-free. nfcc.org/consumer_tools/consumertips/consumertips_07.cfm