This holiday season, overspending on gifts may be particularly naughty. But retailers say there are lots of ways to put some nice twists on holiday shopping.

Denny Danford, owner of Denny's Gift Den in Urbandale, urges shoppers to try locally owned stores.

"With us, the overhead is less than stores in a mall," he said. "The perception is there that bargains are not found in local stores. But in many cases, our prices are better than chain stores to start with. And we frequently buy the same items as they do."

Here are some ideas from local merchants and from the National Retail Federation to help keep holiday expenses in line and make shopping a bit easier:

Make a list. Make sure to include alternative selections in case you are unable to find some of the items on your list.

Take the ad. If you are looking for specific advertised items, take the complete ad with you so that you don't end up in the wrong store looking for a specific price.

Watch for special events. At A Kinder Touch gift store in Beaverdale, owner Becky Cracraft has planned promotions around special holiday events. At this year's Beaverdale Area Christmas Open House Dec. 6, she will offer $3 off a pair of socks handmade in Vermont. To qualify, customers must bring in a new pair of children's socks.

Some stores advertise "early bird" or "night owl" specials to draw customers during times when they are less busy. By getting up early or shopping late, you can take advantage of significant savings - and avoid the crowds.

Be a loyal customer. Lisa Ballenger, owner of Golf Etc. for Women in West Des Moines, says shop owners who know their customer base can compensate customers for their patronage.

"Look for a merchant who is going to reward you for your loyalty," she said. Ballenger is launching a reward program for loyal shoppers soon. She also is adding a customer referral program for shoppers who refer friends.

"We want them coming back. We want to be communicating with customers, making sure we have what they like."

Denny's Gift Den also offers customers a loyalty program, Danford says.

"For every dollar they spend, they get a point, and after 200 points, they get $10 off on their next purchase," he said. "They can treat themselves or buy that extra special gift."

Consider off-season gifts. Ballenger advises shoppers to hunt for bargains on seasonal items. "When seasons change, that's the time when people can take advantage of any markdowns," she said.

Procrastinate - a little. Ballenger says there are advantages to not doing holiday shopping too early.

"Retailers are always building an event around any holiday," she said. "We know that people are out and about more at those times, so we try to run some type of promotion around holidays."

Get a sneak peek. Shop after 6 p.m. the evening before a sale is advertised to begin. Many retailers program the registers the night before, so the sale may already come up in the register even if they have not put signs on the selling floor yet. Ask the associate in advance for any possible upcoming sales, especially on big-ticket items.

Retain your receipts. Staple a gift receipt to the merchandise tag in case it needs to be returned or exchanged. Keep your original receipts with any warranty paperwork for the life of the warranty.

Be cautious. Watch your personal belongings at all times, including handbags and purchases. Be careful, especially at the register, when you can easily get distracted by the transaction itself.

Wrap it up. Let the charity group at the mall wrap your gifts for you. This will save you a lot of time and free you up to do other things on your holiday to-do lists.

Sign up for store e-mails. Many retailers send you a printable coupon for a merchandise discount when you register to be included on their e-mail lists. Once registered, they keep you advised of sales and special offers - and often send more discount coupons.

Time it right. Many Web sites have timed windows to complete a transaction, so you need to have credit card numbers and shipping information at your fingertips.

Surf for deals. Go to www.shoplocal.com to help you find deals at national retailers around Des Moines. You can shop by categories and by price range.