My father groaned every year when retailers would display Christmas décor immediately after Halloween. If he was alive today, he’d be shocked to see tinsel directly adjacent to the Halloween garb.
But for me, my shopping juices begin to salivate when I can begin to see the first signs of Christmas. I like to get a head start on the holiday craziness. It’s not the shopping I love, it’s the act of getting the shopping done that I enjoy. I actually detest the commercialism of Christmas and continually strive to find ways to work around the hoopla surrounding the day.
Several years ago I found myself close to a nervous breakdown because my husband wanted to relax on Christmas Eve. I thought to myself, Relax? Are you kidding? We have so much to do – presents to wrap, stockings to fill, stuff to assemble, food to prepare, and on and on … and on went my list of things that were overwhelming me.
It was after that point that I have truly made a concerted effort to have all of my holiday shopping done before Halloween. Don’t get me wrong. I have found some fantastic deals at the after Thanksgiving sales, but for the most part that really only pays off if you’re shopping for big-ticket items. If that’s the case, you can still purchase other items in advance and wait for one or two pricier gadgets to hit the big sales.
Of course, this is only possible to accomplish with careful planning, organization, and, dare I say it, downsizing of gift buying. I’ve gotten a lot of slack over the years on this particular concept. I have found that Christmas is far more enjoyable for everyone this way. I have to be deliberate in my purchases because I can only pick those things my children really want so I spend a lot more time selecting each gift.
I know my plan works because I enjoy Christmas more than ever and I’ve never heard my children complain about not having a great Christmas. Instead I hear words of joy like, “That’s the exactly what I wanted! How did you know?”
Does finishing your shopping sound like mission impossible? It’s really not. Here are three steps to get you singing “Jingle Bells” before the last leaves fall off the trees.
- Make a list of all of the people you need to purchase gifts for. Try to consider downsizing or coming up with other ways to give this season, such as homemade gifts, service, etc.
- Keep a notebook handy to jot down possible gift ideas for special people in your life. If you keep it all written down you’ll be able to make a budget and keep track of what you’ve purchased and what still needs to be done.
- Find a spot to stash your stuff. I have a few great hiding spots my kids haven’t discovered yet. I even use the garages and closets of friends to keep my kids from snooping around. Don’t forget to write down your secret spot on Santa List so you’ll know where to retrieve come December.
Question: Have you done any Christmas shopping yet?
You go girl!!
Just let me know if you are coming before St. Nic’s Day as my presents are stored behind my bedroom door and in from of my overstuffed closet. Being an apartment dweller, the only thing wrong with early shopping for the holidays is the storage.
great ideas. I have thought about getting the little stuff out of the way. and I have been looking at sales and contemplating what i want to do.
Oh yeah I’ve started shopping. My sister is done with one of her kids already. I agree, I think it’s super important to have a list to keep track of what has been bought and what still needs to be purchased. Writing down the hiding places is a good idea too. The past few years I have kept it on a spreadsheet, but I might have to go old fashioned this year and get a notebook since I have another child this year. Thanks for the tips!