Hello!!! I absolutely adore the winter holiday season and want to be able to revel in it stress free. Of course, like many, that stress comes from the gift department which is why I like to get a very early jump on my Christmas shopping. I have a big family and that makes for a pretty extensive shopping list! Rather than scramble last minute and pray that the prezzies arrive on time, I avoid that completely by starting my purchasing right about now. This is never a chore but something really fun because your girl loves to shop even if it is for other people! As I prepare to get my holiday shopping out of the way, there are a few things that I always keep in mind. Let’s get started:

Consider Your Budget:

Holiday shopping should not break your bank and it is so important to consider your budget to prevent that from happening. The simplest way that I keep my budget in check is by placing a firm amount on what I am willing to spend and sticking to it. Sure, you can leave a bit of wiggle room. However, be wary of wiggling too much because that’s when you can get into trouble. Around now is when I like to pick up a few extra shifts at work and designate that cash for strictly holiday purposes. This is a great way to ease stress later on. Once again, I would much rather do more work now as opposed to waiting into the winter. And, yes, that is because I hate driving in the snow SO. Much. lol!

Consider Your Time:

Considering your time doesn’t exactly apply to online and in store purchases now. But, if you are going the handmade or custom made gift route, it is absolutely something to think about. Custom orders can take a decent amount of time to get done and it might take longer as the holiday season approaches. It is best to get these out of the way ASAP to avoid that. Homemade gifts are an amazing and most loved way to go and completing them in a rush could be very frazzling, to say the least. Chip away at your homemade goods when you can so you can more fully enjoy the craftsmanship and skill involved. Then, your gift will be made with love instead of hair being teared out. 😀

Sales & Deals:

Early holiday shopping is all about knowing what should be purchased at the current moment and what can wait until later. If you see an item for your giftee at an awesome price, then go for it now! Chances are you will not find it at a better price later if it is already a total steal. The same goes for clearance or seasonal products, get them now or they will be gone. It is also helpful to think about where you like to buy holiday gifts at. Do they run sales often? Do they have a big Black Friday or winter Semi-Annual Sale? If that is the case, it might be a good idea to wait until the prezzies you have your eye on are on promotion. This is a-okay, but you will want to be cautious because other people might be scoping them out too!

Alternate Options:

There are so many different ways to do holiday presents so talk to your family and friends and see about switching things up! Perhaps you will have a White Elephant party? Maybe everyone will have one specific giftee to shop for? Or how about everyone pitches in for an experience style gift all together? This can be a really fun way to make new family traditions while keeping stress at a minimum. There is no right way to do the holidays so get creative and go for it. Whatever it is will be perfect for your nearest and dearest. ❤

With that, I am ready to get my shop on and am already looking forward to holiday memories with my loved ones!

Are you an early or last minute holiday shopper? What is one of the holiday traditions in your family? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah