Getting it DONE!
Kids are back to school, the routine is back in order and it is the perfect time to reflect on holiday shopping to take a few minutes to update your running list of ideas. Download the excel spreadsheet for budgeting – there’s a sample (you can look at it, and then delete) to get an idea of what to do: Then make it very basic. Anything too complicated and it might be hard to stick with it. Identify who you’d like to shop for and figure out how much you want to spend on each person. Your total number divided by 11 (11 months until Black Friday) is how much you need to be squirreling away each month until then. We will give you ideas of how else to add to that foxy pocket as the year progresses.
Things to consider when budgeting for gifts:
1) Write down anyone you may have accidently overlooked this past Christmas. Every year Sherrie’s sister-in-law brings her father to our family Christmas and she always forgets him. She vows not to forget him this year by writing him on her list now -no more awkwardness for her!
2) Review your budget: Sherrie realized she is spending too much on her nephew because he lost interest in the gifts, and simply wanted to play with what he had already opened. So, next year she pares back on his budget and opens up room for additional people (like a new niece!)
3) Consider birthdays, anniversaries or other events that fall shortly after Christmas. Jaime has several birthdays for friends and family in January. She adds them to her shopping list on Black Friday. She gets a better deal, or she gets something that goes with the Christmas gift. AND it sure makes January easier.
4) Make sure to create a budget space for this separate gift as well.
Create a separate tab on your spreadsheet to help with gift ideas. Having a running list makes shopping so much easier next season.
Things to consider when creating a running list:
1) Have the same people from your budget list. What items did you get that they really seem to love?
2) Delete items that might already be on your list that they have received from other people and add new ideas based on what they seem to love right now. You can continuously maintain this list all year long (might also help with birthday ideas!)
3) Consider what gifts they received this year: Are there accessories that can add to that gift? Get the information, website or store where you can purchase those things. Add it in next to that person – that way next year, you know exactly where to find it! Sherrie bought her mom a quilting table, and this year she was able to buy the cutting mat accessory. She was so easy to shop for this year thanks to this jewel of a tip!
Things to shop for now:
1) January is the perfect time to find Christmas decorations, cards, and even gifts at deeply discounted prices. This last year Marcie sent out Christmas cards that she bought discounted 11 months before! They were regularly $5 per box of 18 cards, but marked down 75% off and ultimately paid $1.25 for the box! Pack them away in the box of Christmas decorations you generally open first. That way you will be sure to find them.
2) Also, another idea would be to write yourself a note in your planner (paper or electronic), put a note in the month of November. That way when you turn to November, you have a reminder that you made the purchase and where you stashed it!!
3) Other items to purchase after Christmas include strings of lights (that Marcie wanted for a spring wedding).
4) Toys that are packaged for Christmas will be discounted substantially after the first of the year. If you were unable to get something on Black Friday, you might go looking now.
5) Random household items:
a. Extension cords: Green ones are sold for outdoor Christmas lights, and are discounted after the holidays!
b. Timers: These can be used in the yard or for house lights inside to turn on at a specific time. (Isn’t it nice to come home at night and have a house light already on? Also, it’s nice for when you are on vacation to have lights that automatically come on - making it appear someone is home).
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