Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? No you didn’t read that wrong, and I haven’t gone off my rocker. I asked about your Christmas shopping.
Starting your Christmas shopping early has some definite advantages. In fact, I’ve been starting my shopping in July for several years. The first year or so, my family always looked at me oddly when I picked something up for Christmas. After awhile, though, they began to envy all of the extra time my early preparations allowed me. While they are fighting the crowds at the mall, I get to be at home baking goodies and decorating the house.
Let me tell you about the blessings of getting an early start.
Mid-Summer Sales – Shopping early allows you to take advantage of mid-summer sales. In fact, just this week, I saw a Toys R Us ad online advertising their Christmas in July sale. I guess they think it’s a good idea, too. Bonus shopping days at Kohl’s are plentiful this time of year, too.
Diminished Crowds – Starting my shopping early also allows me to miss some of the crowds that are usually associated with Christmas shopping. Clerks have more time to help me with my purchases and answer any questions I might have. You’ll even have more products to choose from during these slower shopping days.
Budgeting Ease – If paying for Christmas presents is tough for you, starting your shopping early may work wonders on your budgeting process. After you’ve created your shopping list, try picking up one or two items each week. You’ll be able to absorb each of your purchases into your monthly budget and eliminate the massive bills that typically come in December.
Wrapping Time – Finally, Christmas shopping in July leaves you plenty of time to wrap your presents. Forget those all-nighters you used to pull on Christmas Eve to get ready for the kids. You can wrap a little bit at a time and still be done before Thanksgiving. You’ll be the one with visions of sugarplums dancing in your head on Christmas Eve.
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5 responses so far ↓
1 claudia // Jul 28, 2009 at 10:42 am
Christmas is pretty low key in my family. it centers more around a meal and good conversation than excess spending, gifts or the waste generated by countless ribbons, wrappings etc.
2 Leigh // Jul 28, 2009 at 11:57 am
My family doesn’t really do the whole gift thing, but my fiance’s family does. The buy way too much stuff for everybody. To be prepared this year, I started a Christmas Club account back in January. Now I’m thinking I should be tapping some of those funds to do some early shopping.
3 Urban Frugal // Jul 28, 2009 at 1:18 pm
This is a great idea. Actually I have done early Christmas shopping for years and also save money during the year to pay for gifts so there is no January surprise on the credit cards.
Those who look at you strangely for shopping early are probably also envious when you get great deals on items and aren’t stressing about gifts.
4 David // Jul 30, 2009 at 1:48 am
This is a fantasic idea. There are tons and tons of great deals out there! They are all over the place, you just have to find them.. Check with stores that still do layaway, this is an even better tool.
I personally have done about half of my Chrsitmas shopping in this month alone.
What a great feeling it is knowing I won’t need a million dollars this December for the rest of my shopping.
5 Jerry // Jul 31, 2009 at 9:00 pm
I have long been a fan of holiday shopping throughout the year, so that it leads to less stress (not to mention less of a hit to the wallet) as Christmas approaches. That way I have the added insurance of finding sales all year and making the most of them, too!
Jerry
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