Gift Giving- Planned Out

I love to receive gifts.  :)  Who doesn't?

  

I also love to give thoughtful gifts that I found for a steal!  

So, here are a few tips to remember as we embark upon the spring/summer gift-giving time.  

  1- Start with a plan.  

• What birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc. are upcoming?  What's my budget? Are there any good sales coming up?

2- Remember that the holiday that just passed is the best time to buy for it next year.  

•  For instance, Easter is on Sunday.  All those cute Easter clothes, baskets, Easter grass, etc. will be on sale by Monday morning.  Remember to save a little holiday cash for a shopping splurge next week and make your dollars stretch even farther.  Who knows, maybe you'll find a cute dress for a niece's birthday or a  beautiful basket to store goodies in throughout the year.  

 3- Keep an open mind.

•  Deals often come in places that you may not have thought of first.  Keep shopping.  Start at the back of the store for sales and look at the lower shelves for clearance items.  

4- How do I remember what I've purchased?

• One easy way is to make a spreadsheet of all the birthdays and gift-giving occasions.  Create a column that allows you to check off that a gift has been purchased.  Be sure to leave room to write in what it was and where you've stored it.
• OR, our smartphones have calendars built in that remind us of important dates.  Keep digital notes on your calendar of what you've purchased.  This way is great for less paper and fast, convenient updating.

5- Where do I keep it all?

• This is where it gets complicated.  Some people are blessed with enormous closets that just beg to be filled with gifts bought at a steal.  Others are forced to cram gifts into small closets or under beds.  
•  Whatever your circumstances are, re-inventory your options, get creative, and re-think the spaces you do have available.  Maybe you can rearrange things in your modestly-sized closet to accommodate all you tokens have purchased for loved ones.  Just remember where you've stored the items!  :)

Don't let a lack of space cramp your gift-giving style.  

Remember to get creative in your space and keep an open mind for deals and storage.  

Then, when you give the perfect gift that you found for a steal, you can smile confidently, 

knowing that you've Got it All Together.