Shopping for Christmas through out the year

Many people take advantage of sales as they happen throughout the year, to build up a stash of gifts they can use for birthdays and Christmas.

This can definitely be a good idea, the only problem I find is now that my kids are a bit older....5 and 8 years old.....they have definite preferences, and these change throughout the year.

For example, lego ninjas may be all the rage in August, so I buy a set on sale, then by the time December rolls around, they're all about lego stars wars.

This is the star wars lego T6 Jedi Shuttle, Santa bought this to my son when he was 6 years old.

Which is all fine and good, but I don't want to give them too many gifts. 

So usually I ask them to pick one decent size lego set each (my boys are all about lego) and 'Santa' will give it to them. I do caution them to be reasonable in their request, Santa can't quite work miracles after all, but what that means is, if I buy a decent sized set that they're interested in earlier in the year because it's on sale, they may well ask Santa for a different set closer to the time.

The lego Black Pearl, this one was actually a birthday gift.

Leaving me with a big lego set that I'm not going to give them and having to buy another. I realise I don't HAVE to get another set....the one they request closer to Christmas.... but I do like to get them the one they request, because that is their one main gift. They will also get a book, something they need, and something to share...a game or sports equipment etc.

So, buying ahead of time can be a very good idea, if you know what gift you plan to give to a particular person.

It works well for younger children without specific preferences.

It works well for collectors, you can source a particular item to go in a collection. The receiver is probably not going to change their mind and suddenly ditch their collection of vintage toasters or pig shaped salt and pepper shakers, are they?

It is a good idea to keep a stash of gifts for birthday parties, that is, parties your child may be invited to.

These don't need to be too specific usually, so when you find a sale on, stocking up for this purpose is a wise idea.

If you're planning to Christmas shop online....

One of my all-time favorite ways to Christmas shop, is online.

No crowds, no parking problems, no pressure, no kids begging for this or that, you won't lose your wallet, or forget your bags, run out of gas, need to stop for lunch, and everything gets delivered to your door.

What's not to love?

Just be sure to leave yourself plenty of time for the postie to get your goods to you.

Where to shop?

Amazon.com  - good for just about everything

eBay.com - good for just about anything

Etsy.com - good for hand crafted and one of a kind items

Major chain stores - many large chain stores have an online presence


These are the 3 big ones that come immediately to mind, but really, all you need to do is Google your chosen product and a list of websites that sell it will show up.

Things to keep in mind when Christmas shopping online

Shipping costs: for obvious reasons

Shipping time: make sure you give things time to arrive before Christmas.

Warranties: this is important  especially if buying ahead of time. Make sure warranties will still be valid once Christmas has been and gone.

Return policy: if the product that arrives is defective, you need to be able to return it. If is opened for the first time on Christmas morning and then found to be defective, you still need to be able to return it.

Other online places to keep your eye on...

Freecycle.org: Through Freecycle you may be able to find things that suit. Some people are not comfortable giving (or receiving) second hand goods, but are your kids really going to care if the slide you gave them is brand new from the box, once it's set up in the front yard? Look for freecycle in your area.

Craigslist: Another way you may be able to find what you're after is on Craigslist. Craigslist does not operate in every country though, so check to see if it's available in your area.

Facebook: Sometimes groups of friends will set up a facebook just for selling and swapping, or having an online garage sale. 

Start planning now

Leaving it all till the last minute is the most stressful thing you can do, so get moving...!

Plan your Christmas shopping ahead

Most important: plan ahead

Now, if you've managed to talk the family and extended family into the wish list system, think about getting this started sometime during November. 

Or even earlier in the year. 

Starting early means you can take advantage of clearance sales that may happen throughout the year. 

The sooner you can get others thinking about what they may like for Christmas, the easier it will be on you. 

Make lists

If folks are not on board with writing wish lists, make up your own lists on your computer, ph or ipad of all the people you want to (or feel obligated to) buy gifts for. Now, beside each name, write any ideas you have at this time of what might be an appropriate gift for each person.

Photo credit morgueFile

Don't get caught out by waiting to do this at the last minute. 

If you're shopping online, you need to allow time for the postie to get your goods to you before the public holidays kick in. And don't forget to think about weekends, or any non-shopping days. 

You may even want to arrange a child care swap with a friend, so you can get out without the kids. 

And it's a LOT easier shopping before school lets out for the Christmas holidays....

So, plan ahead. Make lists. 

Do it now!

(It's never too early!)

What to buy for who?

Think about instituting a wish list system.

It is soooo much less stressful if you know exactly what a person would like as a gift. 

No guessing on your part. Think about asking extended and immediate family who you usually buy gifts for, to create a Christmas wish list for each person. 

If they include specific product names/brands/sizes/colours and possibly a web link, that's even more helpful.

My husband has actually set up a small website for his side of the family, it allows each person to list their wants and needs, and I can look at each list and hit 'reserve' when I see a gift a would like to buy for that person off their list.

Clicking 'reserve' tells the other family members looking at that specific list, that I will be buying that specific gift, so there are no double-ups. Once I've actually bought the gift, I hit the 'purchased' button, so family will see I've bought it. But the person who I've bought if for does NOT see that.

Now, I can see and edit my own list on the site, but I cannot see who or if anyone has reserved any of my items or if any members of the family have bought items for me off my list.

The end result of chaotic Christmas shopping!

This little site has taken sooo much time off my Christmas shopping, I just love it.

Before, we were sending emails back and forth to different members of the family saying 'I bought xyz for so and so' and someone would email back 'Nooo, I've already bought her that!' People would be asking what the kids would like and I'd forget what I'd suggested to who. Darn it.

But still, even without our little website, having wish lists takes so much guess work out of the Christmas shopping fiasco.

You may encounter some resistance from die-hard fans of the surprise! element of gift-receiving but work on them, it will be well worth your while....

Christmas shopping - how to NOT stress about it

Ah Christmas, we do love you. 

We love the reason for the season, the traditions, the smell of the tree, the stockings, the excitement.

What many of us do NOT love however, is Christmas shopping. Even just those two words combined into one short sentence..."Christmas, shopping" can be enough to strike fear into the heart of the most well organised and well monied of those among us.

There are different reasons why people find Christmas shopping stressful, let me list the reasons that come to mind:

• Money, or lack there-of
• What to buy for whom?
• Where to find what you're looking for
• Battling the crowds
• No time to shop
• Fighting the feeling of over-consumerism

The minimalists among us will struggle with buying things that we, ourselves, deem frivolous, as gifts for others. We pray to whatever God we worship that the influx of toys and gifts to our children from others will not be a flood, maybe just a mere river, or better yet, a gentle spring.

The perfectionists among us will stress over finding that perfect something they just KNOW will be right, or will be concerned that they have NO IDEA what to buy for whomever.

Those on a low income will have obvious concerns, affording anything at all for their nearest and dearest.

On a higher income, you may feel the weight of expectations from those around you who are aware of your financial positions.

Unless you're ready to bow out of the commercial side of Christmas altogether, what all of us need is a plan.
A plan!

A Christmas shopping plan of attack; tip, ideas and practical solutions for our Christmas shopping woes. And it's never too early in the year to start.

Stay tuned, a plan of sorts, some options and ideas for you are on their way....