Now that Halloween is over and it's already November, the holiday season is officially in full swing. This means that the stress of gratuitous amounts of gift-giving may, once again, give YOU guilt and grief. It seems to be a part of human nature that we procrastinate and this presents quite the challenge during the holiday season. However, if you begin planning your gift-giving now, you can cut down on unnecessary stress later in the year! Check out these tips we've assembled to help you be proactive and productive!
PLAN YOUR GIFT BUDGET IN ADVANCE
If you're concerned about planning and affording all of the gifts you want to purchase for your friends and family this holiday season, you may wish to consider using a gift and budget planning sheet.
We have found a great gift budget planning sheet courtesy of Erin Huffstetler of FrugalLiving.About.com. You can use this sheet to brainstorm gift ideas for each person you want to buy for this holiday season, set up a total budget for all of your gift-giving, and individually assign budgets to each person on your list. If you wish to use the planning sheet, follow these four simple steps:
DON'T FORGET WHEN YOU'RE SHOPPING ONLINE
If you're interested in doing your shopping online, be sure to do it in advance. Don't put all of the items you like into your shopping cart and then forget about them until mid-December! If you forget to place your order, you may be faced with additional charges to get your gift delivered to you on time. Additionally, it is important to remember to consider the cost of Shipping & Handling while shopping online - this may (or may not) put you over your budget.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO DIY
While the concept of a do-it-yourself gift may not seem appealing to you, it is definitely a viable option you should consider. When you give yourself enough time to properly create a DIY gift, you can create some pretty fantastic gifts. If you are interesting in tackling a DIY gift for one of your gift recipients this holiday season, try following these four simple steps:
PLAN YOUR GIFT BUDGET IN ADVANCE
If you're concerned about planning and affording all of the gifts you want to purchase for your friends and family this holiday season, you may wish to consider using a gift and budget planning sheet.
We have found a great gift budget planning sheet courtesy of Erin Huffstetler of FrugalLiving.About.com. You can use this sheet to brainstorm gift ideas for each person you want to buy for this holiday season, set up a total budget for all of your gift-giving, and individually assign budgets to each person on your list. If you wish to use the planning sheet, follow these four simple steps:
- List the people for whom you want to shop.
Who do you need to purchase a gift for this holiday season? - Determine your total budget for this holiday season.
How much can you afford to set aside for holiday spending this year? - Divide up your total budget between all of the people on your list.
How much money do you want to allot to each person on your list? - Brainstorm gift ideas for the people on your list.
Do the gifts that you are brainstorming fall within your allotted budget?
This planning sheet can be incredibly useful to you! Once you know which gifts you will be purchasing, you can plan a time to buy them that won't disrupt your weekly grocery routine or any other necessary monthly expenses you have.
If you're interested in doing your shopping online, be sure to do it in advance. Don't put all of the items you like into your shopping cart and then forget about them until mid-December! If you forget to place your order, you may be faced with additional charges to get your gift delivered to you on time. Additionally, it is important to remember to consider the cost of Shipping & Handling while shopping online - this may (or may not) put you over your budget.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO DIY
While the concept of a do-it-yourself gift may not seem appealing to you, it is definitely a viable option you should consider. When you give yourself enough time to properly create a DIY gift, you can create some pretty fantastic gifts. If you are interesting in tackling a DIY gift for one of your gift recipients this holiday season, try following these four simple steps:
- Consider your budget.
Many people think of DIY gifts as a "cheap alternative" to purchasing a gift. However, if you don't plan accordingly, you can end up spending more on your DIY gift than you might have spent on a gift from the store. Decide what your limit is for this gift, and then be sure to stick to it! - Pick a theme.
It can seem like a daunting task to create an entire gift from scratch. However, if you pick a theme to follow, it can be much easier. Consider what types of activities or things your gift recipient enjoys, and then create a gift that embodies that theme. This can make for a personalized and thoughtful gift. - Make a shopping list.
Plan out what items you will need to create your DIY gift. While you're creating your shopping list, be mindful of the budget you created. - Make time for your gift.
After you've planned your DIY gift and purchased all of the components you need to assemble it, don't just forget about it. Set aside time to put your gift together and make it as special as you originally intended!
DIY doesn't have to be cheesy or scary! If you are sure to plan ahead and know what you want to do, your DIY gift can be the highlight of your holiday season.
The most important take-away from this blog is to avoid procrastination this holiday season! If you use some of these helpful tips to aid you with your holiday gift-giving, you can relieve your usual holiday stress and focus on the fun of this festive time of year. No matter what strategies you employ for your holiday planning, Savvy Student wants to wish you a happy holiday season!
Merry Savings!
~Savvy Student
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