This week is pretty simple. Today, plan your holiday gift giving. Who you will buy gifts for, how much will you spend and where you will store the gifts?
Who will you buy gifts for?
Every year our “to buy for” list gets smaller and smaller. Since 2008, I have viewed money much differently. I want my dollars to count and the gifts I give to be wanted and needed.
I LOVE homemade gifts. I love to craft and create, but the people on my list DO NOT LOVE those gifts. So I buy all my gifts.
I try throughout the year to listen for hints and observe where my family members shop, eat and buy home goods. Now is when I start thinking about what each person on my list would really like.
I find this is so hard. Few of us really wait for things. If we want it, we buy it – at least with the people on my list. And for goodness sakes, we are WAY past “kid age.”
If I can get a deal – great, but usually I don’t and that’s ok with me. I don’t do black Friday or Cyber Monday.
I keep my list with me in my purse so if I am out and see something perfect, I can buy it and add it to my list.
How much will you spend?
Last year hubby and I started Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. That made me add up exactly what we needed to save for Christmas gifts.
We try really hard to hit those numbers, but if we find something “perfect” that is more, that’s ok. {I guess that’s why we need the Dave Ramsey course!}
What is your comfort zone with holiday money? Do you have a buffer to go over if you find the perfect gift?
I also try to buy the same number of gifts for both kids which is really hard because Joey likes small, expensive video games and electronics and Abby likes cheap art supplies.
If at all possible, I do try to pick up at least stocking stuffers starting in August at a discount which leads to…
Where will you store your gifts?
Currently, I have a few gifts hidden in my closet and a small basket in the laundry room holding stocking stuffers.
Last year, we bought our son a TV. That’s kinda hard to hide. So, I bought a new door knob that locks for our basement pantry door. I LOVE this! All year round I can hide whatever I want in there!
I am really looking forward to using this closet this year because the shelves are pretty empty and I will be able to SEE what I have already bought when I open the door. In the past, I have kept everything in bags until wrapping day. Sometimes that wasn’t such a good surprise!
Do you have a closet or spare bedroom you could lock? It really wasn’t hard to change out the locks on my door. WELL worth the hour it took!
Have fun making your list; I will see you next week to talk about holiday cards!
See the rest of the 10 Weeks to Organizing Your Holiday Celebrations:
10 Weeks To Organizing Your Holiday Celebrations
9 Weeks To Organizing Your Holiday Celebrations: Make A Plan {You’re here!}
8 Weeks To Organizing Your Holiday Celebrations: Will You Send Cards?
7 Weeks To Organizing Your Holiday Celebrations: What Do You Want To Do?
6 Weeks To Organizing Your Holiday Celebrations: What Will You Eat?
5 Weeks To Organizing Your Holiday Celebrations: Gift Wrap Organization
4 Weeks To Organizing Your Holiday Celebrations: Decorating The House
3 Weeks To Organizing Your Holiday Celebrations: Stock Up On Basics
2 Weeks To Organizing Your Holiday Celebrations: Create Bags For Each Event
1 Week To Organizing Your Holiday Celebrations: De-Clutter and Donate Old Toys
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