Teresa Guidice's family has already started their countdown for her prison release.

E! Online reports those closest to the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" reality TV star are anxiously anticipating her return after she served out the terms of her 15-month sentence on bank fraud-related charges at the Danbury Prison.

"Everyone's doing a countdown," said a source. "It's an exciting time. Everyone's excited to see her again and come over to the house and hug her.

The 43-year-old is expected to be released sometime before Christmas and the family is committed to celebrating the holidays together, despite the realization that husband Joe must report to authorities in just over three months to begin serving out his 41-month prison stay on similar charges.

"No one's thinking about that right now," a source added. "No one's thinking beyond having Teresa home again."

Giudice has already signed on to rejoin the cast of "Real Housewives," and has plans of writing a tell-all memoir about her life in behind bars.

Meanwhile, word is Giudice figures to be returning to a different scene on the set of "Real Housewives. E! reports Bravo network officials have now cut the budget for the show virtually in half from the last time when she was behind the camera.

Reports state that the cuts $6 million to $3 million largely stem from the less than stellar returns garnered by a recent franchise spinoff starring the Giudice family.

"Real Housewives of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In" starred Joe trying to keep his family together while his wife was away. It also featured appearances from Teresa, via jailhouse phone calls with family members.

"Bravo cut the 'RHONJ' budget in half," a source told Radar. "They cut the budget because the ratings for Teresa's special were so bad."

Word is Teresa will still be earning $1 million for the season and mainstays Jacqueline Laurita and Melissa Gorga at least $750,000 apiece.

By comparison, married newcomers Robyn Levy and Christina Flores are only expected to earn around $40,000 and matchmaker Siggy Flicker won't be paid at all.