With Christmas (Hanukkah, Kwanza, Festivus…etc.) Just around the corner, it’s time to break out the egg-nogg, start stuffing stockings and putting presents under the tree.  Between the social networks, desktop sites, the mobile web and good old brick and mortar retail locations, there are more platforms for chasing down the best deals on, well, everything under the sun, now than ever before.  And while you might not be looking forward to battling the mall mob to find that perfect gift for everyone on your list, this year, with the power of mobile technology at your fingers, decking the halls can be much more manageable.  To make your holiday shopping experience a little less painful (bothersome, etc.), check out the following apps and streamline this year’s Christmas preparations.

1. Shopper

A good place to start with your holiday gift guide is Shopper.  With this app, you can select “your stores” nearby, and the app will regularly check for fliers, deals and coupons for these locations, notifying you when items are on sale, or if a store is offering any promotions.  The app also allows you to create and organize a variety of different shopping checklists, and then share them with others via email.  Try Shopper for free, and don’t worry—if you fall in love, the full version is yours forever for just 2 bucks. Android users, try Google Shopper, free in the Android marketplace.

Free/$1.99

2. Dealdar

Dealdar is a great program for hunting down the deepest discount while you’re on the go, especially since no download is necessary—you can access it on the web from your Smartphone’s mobile browser without any further hassle.  This fully functional web app aggregates the best deals from the social web (ie. Facebook, Twitter and other social networks), so you can find some of the best kept secret deals on the web while you’re out in the thick of it.  Plus, as you might guess, since this app is available over the mobile web, it’s free, and optimized for a wide array of mobile devices. (Full disclosure: Dealdar was built by DevelopmentNow)

Free

3. Better Christmas List

There are a lot of list apps out there, to help you get organized and ready for, well, just about anything imaginable.  But when it comes to gifting, this one simply can’t be beat.  With about as much detail as a client relationship manager, you can plan each and all of your purchases by individual and by group, set a budget for each item, person or group, and track the status of each gift from purchase to wrapping to placement under the tree.  Better Christmas List also allows you keep your planning under wraps with a passcode lock you can enable to thwart any potential snooping attempts.  With all of your plans organized in one place, this app makes holiday shopping a little more manageable, and for less than $2, it won’t break your budget. For Android, check out Christmas Shopper Pro, on sale for $0.99 in the Android marketplace.

$1.99

4. To Santa—Xmas Wish List

Like Better Christmas List, the To Santa app also lets you organize your holiday shopping plans, but what makes this app distinct and magical is its sharing functionality.  While you can’t create advanced shopping lists by group or budget, you can share wishlists with others, by emailing them to your team of elves, so you can easily coordinate your shopping plans.  Additionally, you can create your own wishlist (complete with URL’s to specific product pages) and send it out to contacts of your choosing that might need a little hint (and finally put an end to all those awful sweaters from your aunt). Android users, try the sharing functionality of the Google Shopper app.

$0.99

5. Red Laser

This app might just be the most helpful tool on the market for shoppers determined to hunt down the best deal on holiday purchases.  The app uses the camera to scan barcodes and QR codes on products, and then searches online and local databases to compare prices and help you find the best deal.  Download this app before you hit the mall, and shop savvier this holiday season—best of all, it’s totally free! For Android users, ShopSavvy is a great alternativ,e available to download for free in the Android marketplace.

6. SnapTell

Well, it’s hard to beat free, but as the old adage goes, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.  While the SnapTell app does essentially the same thing as Red Laser—scanning bar codes and looking up pricing comparisons in stores nearby and online, this app also enables you to look up pricing and product information by snapping a picture of the cover of books, CDs, DVDs, or video games while you’re in stores, or passing by a display.

While the app is limited to these types of media, fortunately all the above seem to be quite popular holiday gift items.  The photo-capture capability of this app comes quite in handy when you’re just passing by, or don’t have time to check out an item in full detail, but want to get more in-depth product information later on.  And did I mention that this app is also yours to download for free—hey, at that price, you might as well give both a shot. Available for iPhone and Android devices.

Free

7. Mint.com Personal Finance

While the Mint app isn’t designed specifically for the holidays, it is the perfect app for budgeting and managing all of your holiday financing.  Visit Mint.com to get started, and set up a free account.  You can sync all of your checking, debit and credit card accounts, establish a budget for holiday shopping, or a New Year’s vacation (or whatever else tickles your fancy this season), and track your spending habits so you don’t have to worry about any holiday financial crises.  With the app, you can keep tabs on your accounts, and the program will send you email notifications if you’re running short on cash, or when you’re overspending on Gingerbread Lattes.  Both the account and the app are totally free, and just in time for the holidays. Available for iPhone and Android devices.

Free

8.  Park’n Find

If you’ve ever managed to forget where you parked your car, you immediately recognize the value of an app that uses GPS technology to “mark” your parking spot and that helps you to navigate back to that spot in the event that you ‘misplace’ your car.  While there are several of these apps on the market already, buyers should beware that not all of them are, well, effective.  That said our pick (and the best rated of its type) is Park’nFind.  Sure, it requires you to not be totally and completely oblivious of your surroundings, but it does a pretty good job in a pinch, and it’s perfect for helping you get back to your car and out of the holiday mall madness. Android users, try Park Mark for free.

$1.99

9. Mall Maps

This app is simple and straightforward, but very effective for quick trips to the mall.  Once you open the app, it will pull up a menu, from which you can find malls nearby, look up malls, or access your favorites.  Once you select a mall, the app will provide you with a full directory of the stores listed for that location, as well as a map to help you navigate the mob and quickly find what you’re looking for.  And while it might not have you saying “how did I live without this?,” it can save you a lot of time on your holiday shopping—just remember, it won’t help you find a free parking space! For Android users, a great alternative is the Point Inside app (free)

Free

10. Dr. Seuss Camera—The Grinch Christmas Edition

If you’re like us, you’ll agree that the holidays just wouldn’t be complete without something green, mean and Grinch-y! This year, Dr. Seuss fans can get their fill with the Dr. Seuss Grinch Edition holiday greeting card app.  The app lets you select a card background, and then use the camera to edit your face into the picture, and add characteristic Dr. Seuss artwork.  This app is perfect for sending holiday cheer this season without the envelopes and stamps.  Unfortunately there’s no Grinch-themed replacements, but Android users can send holiday greeting cards with My Greeting Card Messages (free).

$0.99

And now that your holiday shopping just got a little smoother, why not kick back and enjoy the yuletide spirit? With these festive apps, your holidays are off to a good start.