It is a sure bet you have heard this from me before, and it is a sure bet you will hear it from me again. Shopping for birthdays, and holidays is expensive, especially when it is last minute and not planned. So rectify that by shopping for gifts year round.
Several department stores host clearance sales several times a year. This is a terrific time to stock up on gifts for any occasion. Candles, vases, candy dishes, plates, bowls and other household items are marked down as much as 60-70%. These are the types of gifts that are perfect for any occasion.
As we browsed through a local store here the other day, we saw water toys, sand toys, rafts, and all types of outdoor items on sale at the very least 50% off. We have three birthdays during the summer, and these gifts would be perfect. We purchased a deluxe Slip and Slide for only $8.00 normal retail was about $35.00. It is amazing the deals and discounts you can get. So stock up on these items and find a place in your home to store them for the next birthday or holiday you have.
After Christmas last year, we stocked up on Christmas towel sets, candle holders, holiday bowls and mugs, candy dishes, non-dated ornaments, animated Christmas decorations and other items. We are set for several gifts this year, including the unexpected.
One of the other things we do, is something I have done since my children were very young. I had to adapt it when I met my fiance and his three children. After Christmas I purchase a calendar exclusively for gifts and holidays. First thing we do is mark off all important holidays and birthdays, as well as any special events that we know will occur that year, even if we don’t know the date. (ie. Graduations, church events (baptism, first communion), and anniversaries).
Next, at the top of each month, we write a child’s name. We have five children, so they typically get two months, though this year, we overlapped a few and gave them three months, because it gave us more flexibility. During the month their name appears, there are a couple of things that occur. First, that is the child we do the shopping for. If we see something they would like, and it is at a good price or deal, we purchase it and put it away. It then becomes a birthday gift or Christmas gift. The other thing we began doing, is allowing that child to purchase the gifts for their siblings during that month. With five kids, each child has to purchase four gifts x2. One for birthdays, one for Christmas.
This whole system has truly worked for us. We have a closet full of gifts for anybody who has something come up, we have most of our Christmas shopping done by October and we fill in the gaps during the last two months, and we save a bundle doing it this way. We know when the sales are and when things they want will be a good buy. This has saved us a lot of money and that whole huge bill racked up in the month prior to Christmas. You might be surprised if you had a chance to browse our cabinet, at how ready we are for Christmas.
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