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Getting Organized: Shopping for the Holidays All Year Long

🎄 Helpful Tip for Christmas & Hanukkah

By Kyrie Collins, Highlands Ranch-Parker-Castle Rock Publisher January 2, 2014

Did you know that the average American family spends nearly $800 on Christmas presents? That doesn't even take into consideration the extra food, decorations, shipping costs, and new outfits for special celebrations!

It certainly is a wonderful feeling to see someone's eyes light up as they unwrap a special gift chosen just for them... but going into debt isn't nearly as fun.

To avoid a punch to the pocketbook in December, I do a little bit of Christmas shopping throughout the year. I keep the gifts in mislabeled storage boxes in my office closet (yep, those are my secret Christmas loot boxes in the picture above).

My child whose name begins with the letter "D" is the "Doctor's Records" box, the one whose name begins with "A" is the "Auto Records" box, and my husband whose name begins with "S" is the "Social Security" box. The "Other" box is for everyone else, including a couple of things I might pick up for myself!

I toss everything I buy into the appropriate box, and then assess the box in early November.

Some of the gifts I buy are:

  • Christmas keepsake ornaments or decorations at after-Christmas sales
  • Shirts for my kids (one size larger than what they're currently wearing) at end-of-season sales
  • Fun socks, hats, or scarves (since these will probably still fit i December)
  • Clothing for me or my husband on the Clearance racks
  • Stocking stuffers like stickers or pencils from dollar stores or the dollar bins at Target
  • Family movies or video games when I see them go on sale (I watch the weekly circulars)
  • Games, toys, books, and puzzles at consignment sales (the Spring sales usually begin in March)

Spending just $20-$30 each month on items like these not only helps me get through Christmas without going into debt, but also gives me such a great head start on my holiday shopping that I can spend my time enjoying all the fun of the season instead of fighting the crowds at the mall!

That, for me, is the best gift of all!