A Well Organized Holiday Shopping Season

Avoid holiday stress and save money by organizing a gift list this year. It is the single most effective thing you can do to ensure an enjoyable Holiday shopping season.

(PRWEB) October 27, 2005 -- With decorations starting to line the store shelves in August (that’s right, August) the Holiday season seems to hit full swing by the end of October complete with a few eager radio stations starting their 24-7 Christmas song line-up the day after Halloween. If November 1st indeed starts the Holiday season that gives us an entire fifty-four days to complete our Holiday shopping. So, with nearly two months of shopping days and more products available than ever, why does Christmas Eve continue to be the single busiest shopping day of the year? This year you can avoid being part of that mob of frustrated shoppers searching frantically for last-minute gifts by getting organized. By creating a simple but effective shopping list you might find yourself nestled by the fire this Christmas Eve rather than fighting for a parking spot at the mall. Here’s how to get started:

Make the List (and Check it Twice)
You can create a list of names simply with pen and paper or, if you prefer a little technology in your life, create a spreadsheet. Whichever method you prefer, it will include the usual family and friends and anyone else you need to buy a gift for such as teachers, letter carriers, secretaries, etc. Go through your address book to scan for names you may have forgotten Now jot down any gift ideas you may already have in mind. Leave room for any recipients who may pop up throughout the season like Secret Santas or new neighbors.

Set a Budget
Before you purchase a single gift you should designate a price that you think is appropriate for each gift recipient on your list. You may end up spending a little more or a little less, especially if you’re a seasoned bargain-shopper, but it will give you an idea of where to start from. Add up the entire list to make sure that the grand total is not more than you can afford. If so, go back and make some adjustments before you start shopping. Designating individual gift budgets also makes it easier to control impulse spending and prevents an unexpected balance on your January credit card statement.

Let the Ideas Flow
Now that you have your recipient list and a working budget it is time to do some creative thinking about gift ideas. If you start shopping with no idea of what you are looking for, you’ll spend needless hours roaming aisles and waste energy at stores you buy nothing from. A great place to start is by picking up a Sunday paper and browsing through the advertisements. Store advertisements focus their marketing on gift ideas at this time of year. Find stores with good sales and diverse product selection where you may be able to shop for multiple recipients on your list.

While you’re brainstorming you might think of a couple of gifts that can be given to a number of different people on your list. For instance, if you find a good sale on slippers you might be able to buy five or six pair and give them to your co-worker, your neighbor, your grandma and anyone else you can cross off the list with a favorite standby. If you decide to use this time-saving trick just be sure they won’t all be running into each other with their new (and identical) slippers on.

Shop Online
After you have made your list and jotted down some ideas, go online window-shopping. Most major stores and many mom-and-pop shops have websites where you can browse their product offerings and learn about any Holiday promotions. If you find something you like you either have the option to visit their storefront to make a purchase or you can make a purchase online if available. Online shopping is a safe and easy alternative to traditional malls. Look for a website that offers security and a published privacy policy. If you would like more information about website security visit Truste (http://www.truste.org/). As an added bonus, most websites will ship a gift directly to the recipient with a tastefull gift card. This is especially convenient for out-of-town recipients as it allows you to skip that long line at the post office.

Favorite Gifts
When all else fails and you can’t possibly dig up another gift idea you find yourself reaching for the ol’ standby, a department store gift card. Avoid the unimaginative this year with a few easy and creative gift ideas that you can give to more than one recipient on your list:

Fun and Easy: Purchase a disposable camera and a personality-fitting photo album for a budget-friendly cost of about $25.
The Bargain: Your friends and family will love a lucky bamboo stalk in a ceramic pot. Give it a holiday twist with a velvet red bow. For a budget-wow, buy a small stalk and simple vase seperately for about $10.

The Practical Gift: A small coffee grinder and nice bag of coffee beans will only set you back about $30 and is a great gift for anyone. Even if they don’t drink coffee regularly, it is always nice to have for company or special occassions.

The Hard-to-Please: Give the gift of art & fine crafts to the person who already has everything. It is sofisticated and original and you can bet your special person won’t receive the same thing from someone else. Shop online at Artists’ Heaven (http://www.artistsheaven.com).

Ready, Set, Shop
Now that your list is complete and your ideas are flowing, place a copy in your purse or wallet and check off recipients as you shop. Make it a point to buy a few gifts a week so that you aren’t left with a long list right before the holidays. Be sure to keep your list updated so that you’re never stuck looking at a great sale with no idea of who is left to buy for. When the holiday season is over make a note of what you gave each recipient and tuck it into the decorations box for next year. Your list will be ready and you won’t make the embarassing gift of buying them the same gift next year.

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