In the mid 1990s, Jennifer Melnick Carota of Belle Vernon was a new graduate with two degrees under her belt, working in nonprofit marketing. She was young, and for her using plastic was still a novelty. The credit card bills started to pile up.

"It came to a head in 1997," she says. "It was the holidays. I had nothing. And not buying my friends and family gifts was out of the question. For my job, I was out in the field, traveling in the area, with plenty of extra time to kill, shopping."

Before she knew it, she was buried under more than $10,000 in credit card debt.

The reality of her situation set in. She joined a consumer credit counseling program and started prioritizing spending. With an annual salary of just over $30,000, and a small budget of a few hundred dollars to live on every month, she began the long, hard road of paying back her debts. She bought things she needed for herself at thrift stores, and Christmas gifts for family and friends off of sale racks in department stores.

It took her 10 years to clear her debts. But the experience also made her a savvy shopper, one who can spot the best bargains and follow clever strategies to save money.

When she landed a spot on a local television show after she responded to a query about shopping tips, she realized that there was a lot of advice she could provide others saving to give more. So with help from her husband Bob Carota, a computer programmer and Web designer, she created a Web site and came up with a name that reflected her counseling background: "The Gift Therapist."

Since then she has devoted herself to helping shoppers avoid the financial pitfalls and mistakes that holiday, and other gift-buying occasions, can cause. She blogs regularly on her Web site about great bargains, gift ideas and good shopping smarts. Last spring she also wrote "Shop Smart GIVE MORE," published by Lulu.com.

On a recent Monday, Ms. Carota, 37, led me on a shopping trip through Macy's at Century III Mall in West Mifflin to show me her strategies.

Entering near a holiday display with an ornament section, she stops and suggests ornaments as gifts. As long as they are appropriate to the person's taste, they are a great way to cross another name off the shopping list. Naturally, she homed in on one that was 30 percent off.

Mrs. Carota then bustles through the dinnerware area and points out cake platters and trays as gift ideas. She also recommends martini and wine glasses, as many people would not think to buy those for themselves. As the homemade cocktail is trendy right now, she suggests giving the glass as well as ingredients to make a particular drink.

On to another section. "Jewelry is my favorite," she says, making a beeline to the jewelry counter. She found items on sale immediately. She stands by her credo of visiting the sale and clearance areas first. Jewelry, quite often, is marked down and perfect for giving to female friends and family.

For that obligatory gift, we went to the accessories. A scarf or hat-and-glove set in a neutral color for both men and women is both thoughtful and practical.

Here are some other tips she doled out as she zipped through shopping aisles and dodged clothing racks:

• Avoid shopping under stress. This leads to spending more.

• Always have a plan with a list and budget. This saves money, time and stress.

• Make a shopping wallet with the allotted gift fund inside. Also, keep gift receipts inside this in case one of your buys is a bust.

• Shop backward. Buy smaller budget items first, then larger ones. This forces you to stay within your budget.

• Always hit the sale and clearance sections first. You'll usually find something you want without having to pay full price.

• There is no standard rule that says clothing gifts during the holidays have to be winter-specific. Many people vacation in January. Think about the warmer weather ahead. Everybody has had the holiday experience of receiving multiple sweaters or scarves.

• For those hard-to-shop for folks, a beautiful plate presented with a homemade snack is always appreciated. Then you can say, "Keep the plate!"

• She recommends the power of three. Buy three small gifts within your budget guidelines that all tie in together. For example, Mrs. Carota selected a present suitable for a young woman, a black evening clutch with matching brooch and earrings.

Mrs. Carota believes that the more the shopper stays within a budget and plans properly, the more is left over for a "signature charity," an organization the shopper feels strongly about and donates to regularly.

Mrs. Carota serves as the director of the Schooner Youth Center in Monessen, a faith-based community resource center for families in the area. As a full-time director with part-time pay, she has chosen this organization as her "signature charity," donating a portion of the proceeds from her book to the center's Black Pants Project.

The Black Pants Project was created by Mrs. Carota last April. The project seeks to aid women of all ages entering or re-entering the workforce. The Schooner Youth Center received a consignment store's wardrobe inventory after it went out of business, and Mrs. Carota had the idea to begin donating this clothing to women who needed it. She also gives advice to the beneficiaries of the clothes about creating a professional wardrobe on a small budget.

The organization is having its first Magical Dessert Luncheon and Shopping Spree from 1 to 4 p.m Sunday at the Willow Room in Rostraver, with performances by recording artist Bill Deasy and strolling magician Eric Starkey. Attendants will receive shopping advice, and proceeds benefit the project. Ticket are available at www.theblackpantsproject.eventbrite.com.

Mrs. Carota is optimistic about the shopping season. "There is a silver lining in our current crisis," she says, in reference to the economy. "Spending will decrease, but giving will increase. More thought will go into gift-giving this year."

Jennifer Melnick Carota will give a personal shopping presentation from noon to 3 p.m. Friday (Black Friday) near J.C. Penney's in Century III Mall, West Mifflin. Mrs. Carota's book, "Shop Smart GIVE MORE," published by Lulu.com. costs $16.95 and can be ordered at her Web site at www.thegifttherapist.com.