Christmas shopping on a budget

Christmas shopping on a budget can be a challenge, but it is a challenge that can be easily overcome. With some determination and a plan, you can come out on top every year.

The first thing you need to do is to make a list of everyone with whom you must or want to exchange gifts. Don't forget any gifts that you might give to your hairdresser, paper delivery person, dog groomer etc. Now next to each name write a monetary amount that you would not want to exceed.

Add all the figures together and you have the worst-case scenario budget. Did I mention you should be doing this list in January? This is the best time to start your hunt for the best bargains on the items that you want.

Don't get rid of the list, refer to it often and add ideas you may think of for gifts for the people on the list. As the January sales start, you may be able to grab some fantastic bargains. Be sure that when you get some of the gifts for the people on your list, you write them on the list and show how much you have spent of your budgeted money. 

For example, you may want to spend $25 on your father. You know he likes good quality flannel shirts. In January or February, you might find him one that sold originally for $25 but is now reduced to $10.99. Don't give in to the temptation to buy him two, you only intended to buy one. You have now saved $14.01 off your projected budget. 

The most important part of the early shopping plan is that you must keep good records of what you purchased and what you spent. There is nothing worse than going to wrap your gifts and finding out that you purchased two gifts for one of your fellow office workers.

By the time Black Friday rolls around you should have your Christmas shopping well in hand and be able to go out into the jungle that is the stores that day and be very selective in which bargains you are going to be hunting for.

My second suggestion is to use eBay and Amazon to find hard to locate gifts. It may be that a friend is a book collector and is looking for a particular book that is out of print. This is the best way to find some of these items. If you know someone collects glass or aluminum or just about anything, you can be on the lookout all year. Bargains abound and with small items, the dealers don't have to maintain a store overhead so the prices are reflective of that.

Thirdly, if you are a wonderful baker or love to crochet, handmade gifts, especially for special people, can be more meaningful than anything that you could buy in the store and are a lot less expensive.

Making a scarf for your grandmother or granddaughter can be a gift that they will cherish for years. A busy mother or working woman who doesn't have time to bake will love getting homemade sweet bread or Christmas cookies to serve at her holiday events.

Having a Christmas shopping budget is the best way to have a stress-free holiday. You can do your purchasing throughout the year and use cash. This way when you wake up on New Year's Day you won't have that feeling of dread that people who have overspent and used credit cards will be feeling.

There is one other option for those who enjoy the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping. The crowds, the decorations the smell of Christmas in the air. Use step one, then stop by your local bank or credit union, and open a Christmas Club. 

You can make weekly payments and at the end of November, they will send you a check to finance your Christmas shopping extravaganza and yet again, you won't wake up with debt and spending beyond your means hanging over you in the New Year.