Get Ready for Holiday Shopping

Each year, the holiday shopping season approaches and, each year, many of us find ourselves startled into action.  How can it be that the holidays are only a month away?  Whatever holiday you may shop for, here are some suggestions to keep you focused and, hopefully, calm.

First, make a list as soon as possible.  For me, I write one in September, which seems obsurdly early, but it initially only has names of those for whom I will purchase gifts.  We pick names in my husband's family since there are so many of us, so we know who our gift recipient is before Thanksgiving.  Second, I start to listen to what people tell me.  For instance, my sister and I often visit and she tells me how much she would like an item in a catalogue we are skimming through together...and, there is gift number one!  I start snooping early, as well, with other family members.  I ask husbands, wives and other people who know the recipients well what their loved ones hope for in the holiday.  A few years ago, my sister-in-law told me how much she adored a certain purse but did not buy it for herself.  I was able to pass this information to her gift-giver and she was thrilled with her gift.  The snooping starts to pay off when you are all sharing ideas.

Third, I fill in the list with ideas, figure out where and when to purchase items and try to time the purchases to fit into my budget.  Buying a group of items at one store where I have a coupon or at one on-line site where the shipping is free can save a lot of money.  I also try to purchase gifts first that need to be mailed to other states, to avoid the last minute panic of the post office trip.  

This year, I am trying to wrap as I purchase the gifts.  This reduces the tasks I need to do at the end and I feel motivated to keep going, because I feel accomplished. Wrapping gifts also reduces the risks if someone discovers where you hide your treasures!

Lastly, my son and I work to produce a gift that can be given out in larger numbers for teachers, people we visit during the holidays, and friends with whom we do not regularly exchange gifts but who may arrive with a gift.  This year, it is gingerbread men, which have a fairly long shelf life and can be packaged into individual containers and labeled as needed.  One year, we made Santa's Soup mix from a Better Homes Christmas cookbook which was easy and fun for us to do together.  This year, I was intent upon making misteltoe-type decorations with cranberries until I learned that the "cranberries will stay fresh for three to four days".  Scratch that off my list!  Keep it simple and try to have fun as you prepare.  Happy Holidays.