No, I'm not trying to get you to audition for a job as a department-store Santa to pick up some extra holiday cash. I'm asking you to practice the glee you'll feel if you get Uncle Sam to pay for more of your generosity this holiday season.

You can do that by putting away your checkbook and giving away appreciated assets such as stocks or mutual fund shares instead of cash.

If you give $1,000 in cash, the charity gets $1,000, and you get to deduct $1,000 on your tax return. That saves you $250 if you're in the 25% tax bracket.

Instead, say you give away $1,000 worth of mutual fund shares that you bought more than a year ago for $500. The charity gets $1,000, and you get a $1,000 deduction. But you get more. You get away from the tax on that $500 profit -- saving you an extra 75 bucks. Bigger gifts, of course, offer bigger tax-saving opportunities.

What if you really like the stock or mutual fund? Give it away anyway, and then buy it back with the money you would have given to charity. Only profit from now on will be taxable.

Although gifting of appreciated assets sounds like the playground for Daddy Warbucks, it can pay off for folks of much more modest means. If you're interested, contact the object of your generosity. The charity should be happy to help you arrange the gift.