In the last week before Christmas, ask anyone if they’re ready for Christmas and most likely you will hear them moan and groan about the woes and stress of getting the shopping done. From having trouble dealing with the traffic and the crowds, to trying to figure out what to buy a particular loved one. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way.

Planning your Christmas shopping well in advance will save you so many headaches that by the time the day comes, you’ll be cool, calm, and collected to actually enjoy the time with your family and/or friends. I don’t like that fact that department stores start pushing Christmas products before Halloween is even over, but if you think about it, it’s around the time you need to do the ground work of preparing for Christmas. With so much to do for the holiday season, waiting too long to start will cause you to cram it all in just a few short weeks. Let me tell you that you will be spent (no pun intended) by the time Christmas rolls around.
My mother used to shop for presents for my brother and I all year long. We were predictable as to what our interests were and that made it easier for my mother to find things throughout the year and store them until December. My mother told me years later about how in doing it that way she would save so much money. I’m not saying you need to start your shopping in January, but October to me seems like a fair assumption as to when to look for bargains. You may also need the time to get some Christmas gift ideas.

Let’s face it, when we feel that we are under pressure with only having such much time before an important event, we stress out and become very edgy. Why put yourself through that if there is a way around it so you and your family can enjoy the time you have together.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

As the kids get older, it seems that the gifts are a little more elaborate and costly, but if you do your shopping correctly, you can find the same product at a lower price. With some effort, you can save yourself a good amount of money. Here’s some tips to help you finish your Holiday shopping done without breaking the bank or going insane getting it all done.

First you shouldn’t wait until the last two weeks before Christmas to start looking at what to get someone. It’s hard enough as it is to find time in our busy schedules to take a run to some mall to check out prices and availability of a gift. Do you really want to do all of your holiday shopping done in two weeks? It sounds good to do, but the idea I’m making is…Are you getting the best price for the item? Ideally you should start doing so around the first week of November. This will give you seven weeks to stop at different stores or get online to research possible Christmas gift ideas.

Shopping Online has become more the way to go these days when buying Christmas gifts. With the price of gas and the inconvenience of traffic along with the cost of parking, online shopping is bigger than ever. Look around, get a good idea of what different products cost. You will find that it’s not often you find two merchants selling the same item for the same price.

Negotiate. You’d be amazed how many smaller businesses will work hard to get your business. WalMart, Target and the other “big Box” stores tell you want you will pay for a particular item. That’s it period, but a small business owner know that he competes against those larger ones. They know that you are looking to save money, so they are willing to give you a better price. Since they own the company, you can talk to the “Big Man” to see if a deal can be reached. Try doing that in one of those big box stores.

If done correctly, you won’t be stressed out from all the preparing you did to get ready for the holiday and you will still have money left over for maybe a gift for you.

9 Sheets of Holiday Gift Wrap. 4 Sheets measuring 30 inches x 30 inches and 5 sheets measuring 24 inches x 30 inches for a total of 50 square feet.

1. Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
2. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree -Brenda Lee
3. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town – The Andrews Sisters
4. Silver Bells – Bing Crosby
5. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Judy Garland
6. The Christmas Song – Osmond Brothers
7. I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Wayne Newton
8. White Christmas – Don McLean
9. What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? – Donny Osmond
10. Sleigh Ride – Mick Jones
11. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Bobby Vinton
12. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Andy Williams

Starting early is one of the biggest keys to thinking of cheap ideas for Christmas gifts. If you know what someone wants and you know what store to buy it from, a great idea is to sign up for coupons, or become a special member of their club. Wait until you have a coupon or until you notice the particular item on sale. If you start looking and watching early enough, a sale or coupon opportunity is bound to come up! Other ideas would be to watch for “Buy one get one free” or “Buy one get one half-off”. If you have two friends/family members to buy for who don’t know each other or who won’t be opening gifts together, this is a great way to save yourself some money without anyone knowing.

With the state of today’s economy, many of us may give or receive more home-made gifts than we normally do. If you have a creative side, or the ability to construct original ideas for people, it will mean a lot to them. Maybe you would enjoy making some jewelry, or a photo box for someone. The supplies to do these things can be minimal and low-cost, and the results sometimes look as though you spent a fortune.

While we all say it is the thought that counts, we all know that it’s silly to give gifts that we ourselves wouldn’t want to receive. Always keep this in mind. While it might be important for you to save a few dollars, spending the extra bit may also make that special person feel extra special this Christmas! The biggest key is to set a budget for yourself and keep track of every penny you spend on gifts. It will make you more conscious of what you’re spending your hard-earned money on, and you will only spend it when you absolutely have to. Good luck!