Posts Tagged ‘xmas’

Have you started your Christmas Shopping Yet?

Monday, September 7th, 2009

Yes, I know it’s only September, and some of you are probably thinking I’m off my trolley right now, but lots of people get in a bit of a panic about Christmas when it comes around each year, worrying about the cost, but really as we know it’s going to happen every year at the same time, we can do a lot to make it easier on ourselves by doing what some people do and starting shopping half way through the year or before!

Start now, and plan out who you’ll be giving to, and how much your maximum is that you will be spending per person. I do it by making a chart so I can put the person’s name and what I buy and see at a glance when someone’s completed as I have a box to tick when I’ve sorted them totally (especially useful when planning for kids who you may buy more than one item for).

Because of my chart, I can buy things through the year when I see them at a good price, and put them away without forgetting what I bought or who it is for.  This helps me spread the cost out, and it also makes it cheaper as I can take advantage of sales through the year as well.

It’s worth doing this for things like cards, wrapping paper and stocking fillers as well I find.  Many things like these are quite expensive from November onwards when most people want to buy them, so if you can manage to store things, pick up cards and gift wrap in the January sales when the shops are clearing it out, but even in August you can sometimes find deals on things like this on market stalls or in charity shops as people clear out their cupboards.

The other thing I use my chart for, is to write down how much each item costs.  This way I can keep an eye on how much I spend on Christmas even if I don’t spend it all at once.  It’s not really any different to putting a few £’s away each month in terms of what you spend, but you don’t get that horrible mad rushed feeling in December and can look smug when all your friends are moaning about how busy it is in town because you’ve been so organised and got so much done earlier in the year.

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