Gift Giving

'Twas the Days after Christmas

Is it over or has it just begun?  That is the real question.  For those of us who plan for Christmas throughout the year the planning is just beginning not for this Christmas but for next Christmas!  This Christmas is a shadow in our minds while next Christmas holds the promise of a more faith based, less stressful, spending more time with the family, with just a little planning!  So where do you begin?

The first thought is all those after Christmas sales - what great bargains are waiting out there to help the budgeting for gifts and decorations much easier!  Get your coat on and head out for those stores to save, save, save!   STOP! WAIT!  DO NOT LEAVE!  Give yourself one more day before you hit the stores, if you are meant to have that one true bargain,  it will still be there tomorrow.  The first thing we need to do is to spend about 30 minutes doing some pre-planning for next Christmas so you know what to go out and purchase so you are not just spending money because it is a good deal.  You must go shopping with a purpose for decorations and gifts for next year.

PART ONE

Decorating is an expense for many people and buying decorations after Christmas can really save you money if you plan what you need.  Follow these steps before you out and purchase any new decorations:

1. Go around your house (inside and outside) and take pictures of all your decorations, both up-close of individual things like the tree, mantle, etc. and overall like the living room, bathroom, outside of house.  Do not forget to take pictures both in the day and night if that is a concern to you for different looks.
2. As you go to each area, use an index card to record information about that area, you can define an area either as a room itself or as exact locations within a room.
   • The theme for the area, if any
   • What items you are using
   • Items you want to add next year
   • Items you need to purchase for the area
   • Items you need to make for the area
   • Make a running shopping list to be used throughout the year.  Remember some items you may be able to pick up throughout the year at other post-holiday sales like Valentine's Day (red) or St. Patrick's Day (green) -  keep your eyes open and your shopping list handy!

PART TWO

Gift Shopping for next Christmas can seem like a weird thing to think about just days after this Christmas, but for those of you who shop year-round know that you can acquire some great gifts at some great prices!   However, BEWARE  if you do not go out shopping with a gift list in hand you may over spend on gifts just because the price is such a good deal and you will use it sometime.  While this philosophy is ok to use for a few gifts, be careful using it for lots of purchases because it will cause you to overspend.  Most of us are guilty of having those few gifts that we thought were just such a good deal still in our gift boxes you know, the ones you bought 5 years ago!  Below you will find two ways to help keep you from buying gifts you might never use.

First Draft Gift List

Take 30 minutes, sit down, and write out a list of all the gifts you received this year and who gave them to you.  Now use this list to create a first draft gift list for next year.   As you write down each person's name and list beside it several ideas for gifts for that person.  This will not be your final gift list but will at least get you an idea of who you may need to buy gifts for as you come across bargains while shopping the after Christmas sales.

Plan a Theme

This is my personal favorite way to shop.  Instead of making my list of people out yet I just come up with several themes, buy gifts accordingly, and then assign items later when creating my entire gift list.  The one thing to keep in mind when planning a theme is to keep it broad. Examples of themes that allow flexibility for a variety of people yet are unified include:

 Warmth - this theme can lend itself to items such as blankets, hats, scarves, mittens, hot drinks,machines to make hot drinks, candles, fireplace items, winter socks, etc.  This was one of my themes for Christmas 2006, it was a big hit, and everyone loved it.

 Games - this theme is great because there are so many games out there for different types of people.  The year I used this theme I purchased everything from playing cards with instructions to games made for adults and children to play together.  Many of the games I gave were given as family gifts and not individually, this helped greatly on the budget for the year, as I was able to buy one nicer gift for the entire family instead of several smaller gifts.

  Stockings - I continue to use this theme each year with a different group I give gifts to and it has become a big hit!  All throughout the year I find small items at great prices that will fit into a stocking for both men and women.  Normally the items are generic buy I try to find a few items that match the person in some way.  You can either wrap each gift or not and your stocking becomes your gift bag, just add a pretty tag to the loop - even plain stockings become fun filled gifts and I always still find some stockings hanging around at the 75 percent off sales after Christmas.

Christmas Related - this theme is a great one if you want to give a gift to someone at the beginning of the season.  Just fill a basket, stocking, flowerpot, etc. with items related to Christmas.  This was one of my themes for Christmas 2007  - I had about 10 people I did this for and delivered it on December 1 and told them to go ahead and use the items and enjoy them throughout the entire Christmas season.  This year I will be giving Christmas items related to the kitchen - mostly home-made items to go with my theme for this year.  This will include baking mixes with cookie cutters, red pie plate, holiday dish towels, holiday napkins, holiday mugs with mixes, etc. 

 Family Time - this theme can be one that promotes family togetherness.  Items could include games, puzzles, cookie mixes, cookbooks, movie night gifts, membership to children's museum, theater tickets, etc.- anything that will promote time together as a family.

 Don't forget to add bags, wrapping paper, cards, tags, etc. that you might need to purchase to your shopping list.