Thanksgiving is over, so it’s officially Christmas time. I’m one of those that cannot celebrate anything Christmas until Thanksgiving is over. No music, no lights, no shopping, nothing! I thought since everyone has, or is starting their Christmas shopping, I would post how we tackle Christmas…on a budget of course. These are simple tips, but should keep you from debt come January.
1. Make a list of everyone you plan on buying for!
2. Start jotting down ideas you might have for each person.
3. Set a budget individually and collectively for all your shopping. This is the most important tip! We have different amounts we tend to spend for different friends and family. For example, your significant other might have a higher budget than your sister or cousin. I try to make (baked good or such) for Ryan’s cousins. This will all depend on how much money you have this month!
4. DO NOT buy your gifts on a credit card! If you do not have the money for gifts, save for it or get thrifty! If those you are buying for make fun of you or hold a grudge because your gift isn’t the grandest, they deserve a lump of coal anyway!
5. Use the internet for ideas on gift ideas that are cheap. Pintrest is a great source for this. Research, research, research! Don’t just go out and shop!!!
6. Be careful with “sales!” There are people who study consumer behavior and target buyers during this time to make money! I majored in Marketing and this is what we studied. And in every case, the retailer always wins. Gaurentee you that at least 80% of poeple who shopped on Black Friday bought products with borrowed money! Sales can be great if you know how to shop them and have self-control!
7. Have a purpose when you go Christmas shop! Go with a list of what you’re buying! I’ll often collect all my ideas and write them on paper. Then I’ll go shop for those gifts.
So in a nutshell, my shopping experience looks like this:
-Make a list of people I’m buying a gift for
-Research ideas on Pintrest and Google (ask people for ideas)
-Start writing down ideas for each person/couple
-Once I get majority of the ideas, I make a list for each store
-Keep gathering ideas and shopping
-Wrap presents in last year’s bags/wrapping paper that I bought on sale a year ago when everything was clearanced 50-80% off
I must admit, I start Christmas shopping in Fall. We have two new additions, so I had them all make a list. We told them all there was a budget and they all stuck to it. It's nice having finished and able to enjoy December with lots of baking and crafts! :0)
Oh wow! I love organized people like that. Haven't even bought one! I'm really behind, but always seem to finish! Must.start.tomorrow!
One suggestion, those Gift Baskets/Perfumes/Makeup Kits and Toys that go 50-80% off in January are the best. I do all my Christmas shopping January and buy a little extra for birthdays (Nephews and Nieces, Daughter). During the year I also save 10.00 or so a check. We have a budget of 10.00 per person so, even when I do buy my husband/Daughter something for more I make sure to cut it from other gifts. Example I buy something for only 6.00 which already gives me 4.00 extra, for the hubby/daughter. This year our goal was to spend 10.00 on all gifts and we actually did a median of what each person's gift was and we were at 8.78!!!! Including the 50.00 bike for our daughter!