What! Christmas Already?

Christmas already? There were Christmas trees and decorations in the lobby of a local department store I was in last week. We all complain about retailers rushing the season. Christmas trees and back to school sales, at the same time, is certainly rushing the season a bit, isn't it? Then I started seeing Christmas posts popping up all around the blog-o-sphere too. Have we all gone mad, and started buying into the Christmas season rush?

No, I don't think so. Though I really don't think we need Christmas decorations out in the stores already, thinking and planning for the holidays now is smart. If you are planning to give handmade items, you probably have already started or need to start soon in order to finish before the holidays. I had planned to make homemade gifts, but the weather did not cooperate with part of my plan, no blackberries = no jam for gifts this year. So now I need to rethink my plans.

If you purchase your gifts, it also is smart to start now. Starting now helps you to spread out the cost and avoid using credit for your purchases. There also are many clearance sales between now and the full blown holiday shopping season. Taking advantage of these sales can help you stay in or even under your Christmas budget.

One word though about shopping early. If you are going to start your shopping early be careful. It is easy to lose track of whom you've bought for, and to just keep buying once you've started. To prevent this make a list with who you need to shop for, and track when you have purchased something. Keep the list with you in your wallet. That way if you see an item while shopping you can check your list to see if you've already bought for that person or not.

With that said here is my action plan:

1. Write My List
Make a list of everyone that we will be giving a gift to. Jot down some fit ideas for each person. I will refer to Four For Christmas when I make this list. If you haven't seen this before it is a rule of thumb we use when shopping for our kids.

2. Check in my Gift Drawer
I pick up exceptional bargains throughout the year to use as gifts. These go into a drawer in my file cabinet. Before buying gifts, I always check the drawer to see if I already have an appropriate item to give.

3. Mark Off on the List.
If there are items in the gift drawer I can use, I mark it on the list so I do not buy anything else for that need.

4. Put the List in my Wallet

5. Start the Handmade Projects

6. Look for Sales on Items I Will Purchase.

7. Clean Out the Kid's Rooms
Didn't expect that one? We keep the gifts to a moderate amount, but there are still other friends and family that give gifts to our children. The rooms are already over flowing, now is the time to make some space. Throw out the broken, sell or donate the rest.

Yes, it is only mid September. No, I don't want to rush the season, but I do want to plan for it carefully. I don't want to the pressure, stress and often overspending that come when you don't start your shopping until December. Plan and start now, and maybe the real Christmas season will be more enjoyable!


Frugal Fridays

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