By tiasavingcents | Leave A Comment
Creating gift lists in January sounds absurd. You are just settling back into a normal life after Christmas and your finances are still recovering! But hear me out — starting now and working on it throughout the year is easier on your finances, helping to plan for birthdays, holidays and Christmas and allowing you to shop clearance sales and online deals all year. It also frees time in your holiday schedule leaving less shopping to conquer quickly!
Your list doesn’t have to say what you plan to buy yet. The interest of your loved ones change throughout the year and kids will move on to new fades or hobbies. For my list I don’t even know who my kid’s teachers will be next year. I do know that I want them on my list, and the budget is the same regardless.
My breakdown consists of:
• Names
• Budget Allotment
• Gift Idea
• Actual Purchase and Price
I use a spiral notebook with my main guesstimated budgets for this year’s gifts written inside the cover. Birthdays start, then holidays in the order they arrive in the year. You can also use spreadsheets or tables but I prefer the portability of the notebook. It allows updating as I go. Your lists keep you aware and eliminates over buying. You know what you have and you know how much you spent on gifts this year, assisting in the planning for next year.
I find that if I spend a little more on one gift I save on another and it balances out. In the end being organized and prepared for birthday and holidays, and NOT running out last minute and buying something not on sale or for the lowest price will be what makes this worthwhile. Saving time, money and sanity!
Tia is blessed wife and mom to 4 busy boys ages 15-3 who loves finding greats deals, shopping smart and sharing it all at TiaSavingCents.com . Join her there daily as she shares great deals, smart shopping tips and how you can save your hard earned money!
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Tia, I love this idea. I so need to jump on it and do it, because here I sit trying to figure out a birthday present for tomorrow =/
Tia- This is an awesome idea! I need to get myself organized and not be in the mad panic that I was this year at the holidays.
You know, I never thought of doing this. Come January I am so glad the holidays are over I don’t even want to think about it all over again. But, you made some very valid points. Like planning ahead and early could save me much of my holiday stress. I think I will really try to do some early planning this year. Thanks for the awesome tips!!
Tia, this is a great idea! Anything to help ease/end that mad rush!
What a smart idea. I am always looking for things on sale to put aside as gifts, but the idea of actually writing down names and the actual purchases and ideas is great! thanks!!