It’s already the start of the second week of November. Where have all those weeks gone by? Just barely 7 weeks and it is Christmas once again. Have you started with yourย Christmas shopping yet?ย I haven’t yet. I haven’t started decorating yet, too, since I find it a tad bit too early for Christmas decorations. We usually start decorating at the end of the month or the first weekend of December.
My schedule has been going haywire lately and I haven’t had the chance to visit the sale and bazaar events that I’ve been waiting for for months. ๐ Today is the last day of the Mommy Mundo Bazaar in Glorietta and the Toy Kingdom sale in Megatrade Halls 1, 2 and 3 in SM Megamall. If you’ve got the time, you still have until 9PM today to go and join the rush. ๐
Anyway, previously, I have not really been making a list of who to include in my gift list. It was always automatic: family, nephews and nieces, a few cousins, close friends, close work mates. I roam the malls and bazaars and if there is something that catches my fancy that fits someone from that list or even someone not included in my list, I buy it. Once I am down to the last two weeks before Christmas, that’s the time I list down what I bought and for whom and who I still need to buy a gift. I usually overshoot my budget, too. (I am not the only one, am I?)
Since budget is quite tight and time to shop is almost close to nil, I came up with a few guidelines that will make my Christmas shopping a little bit easier. So, here goes:
1) Make a list. Not only of the names of the people you want to give a gift to. Include the age and birthday, too. And if you already have an idea what to give a certain person, include it in the list. This will make it easier for you to once you hit the stores as you wouldn’t be wasting time looking for an idea for a gift.
2) Set a budget. I usually have a ballpark figure of what I would like to spend for gifts. Then I break it down further depending on how much I would like to spend for each of the persons in my list. It may seem a tedious task but what I used to do was that I write down a number but I don’t always stick to it. That’s how I go overboard.
Knowing what you want to give to a person will give you an idea of how much you need to spend. If it is going to eat a chunk of your budget, try to come up with something elseย that wouldn’t require you to spend so much. Since I have a limited budget for this year, I have actually cut down my shopping list. If your budget cannot afford to buy gifts for your friends, then don’t include them. They wouldn’t hate you for it anyway. ๐
3) Shop whenever you can. It’s never too early to shop for gifts.ย Always bring your shopping list with you so whenever you hit the mall. And if you have the budget, you can already get a couple of the items and cross them off your list. You never know, by December time, you’re already halfway done or even almost done with your Christmas shopping. ๐
4) Be creative. Wrapping papers, paper bags, boxes and all that are getting expensive because of the different designs and concepts that are now available. And it is really tempting to buy thoseย cute bags for the little cute gifts that you bought without thinking about the expense. Little did you know, at the end of the day, it has made quite a dent in your expense list. Keep those cellphone boxes and other gadgets because they might come in handy during gift wrapping time. I usually keep paperbags of stuff that I buy, even the paperbags used for gifts given to me or my son.
And, since you’ve saved time shopping by shopping early, try to come up with creative ways of wrapping those gifts. Use extra art paper instead of throwing them away, and those cake ribbons come in handy, too, you know. ๐ Or, instead of buying ribbons, have you ever tried using yarns instead? This kind of gift wrapping activity will also be a good idea for family bonding.
So far, these are the guidelines that I will be following this year. I already have my gift list and starting to list down the items that I would like to give them. I am currently working on the budget now but I have yet to start checking out the malls and the bazaars and other sale events.
I’m sure a lot of you out there have your own guidelines to follow and I am interested to know. Please do share your thoughts. ๐
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I’ve always wanted to do early Christmas shopping but most of the time the much affordable items came 1-2 weeks before Christmas and that’s the time when almost all people also do their shopping. Thanks to your post I can now manage and plan ahead of time.
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You’re welcome, Arcee! I agree, there are a lot of affordable items during those times din pero sometimes, it’s too much hassle na.
Pasko na! haha. You are the first Christmas blog I’ve read. Thanks for the tips, I just read Mommy Michelle Solee’s blog on how to get creative with Christmas gifts. ๐
Oo nga. It’s just around the corner na ulit. ๐ I’ll check her blog, I am definitely going to need tips on being creative ๐
Ay mali pala, you’re the second na pala. Sorry gulo ko. ๐ #Momnesia #MomConfused
LOL! Ok lang yan, Mommy May… ๐
Thanks for the tips! We all need this to put our expenses under control especially this coming Holidays!
Thanks, Mommy Lani! ๐
Like you I haven’t started putting up Christmas decor yet. Will probably start next week though. I haven’t started with Christmas shopping either. We usually start with the holiday preparations after my eldest daughter’s birthday, which is actually today! ๐
Happy birthday to your daughter! ๐
Oh, reading your post makes me miss the Philippines more! Here in the US, the malls/shops are not yet “Christmas adorned”, though they sell Christmas decors already. I miss the holiday rush in the malls where almost everyone is looking for that perfect gift for a friend or a loved one. Hay… Thank you for sharing. ๐
Christmas in the Philippines is still the best, I would say ๐ Though maybe you can already start decorating just to help make you feel like you’re back home ๐
So early for Christmas shopping, Mommy! Hahahaha! But indeed this would be the best time since yung iba is not yet thinking about it, or they prefer to shop pag mas malapit na sa Christmas because of the sale and great finds.
Well, after all those years of shopping rush right before Christmas, I realized that it is going to be a lot more convenient to start early. ๐
Great tips, I’ve already been shopping for gifts lately ๐
Thanks! I’m planning to start my shopping this weekend myself as I just finished my list ๐
You know what, I do this every single year and guess what, I blow it up each time. Gah. I get lured by things glittery and gold. LMAO I go over board on the kids’ gifts. This is the one time of the year that I buy them a lot of stuff because the rest of the year I almost always say no to stuff they ask for. Hahahaha
same here! ๐ though it was okay with me to go overboard before since it was just me..But I think I need to stick to this guidelines this year although i think i will definitely splurge a bit for my kid.. haha talk about testing out my almost non-existent ability to budget LOL
I really need to employ your points 1 and 2 this year.. I usually just impulse buy and end up overspending on some people and then completely forgetting others.. this year we are on a TIGHT budget, so I really should wise up and use your guidelines, haha.
Anyhoo, I found your blog through a fellow blogger, and thought I would stop by and say hi! I’d love to keep in touch and comment share on future posts! It would make my day if you stopped by my blog sometime to say hi! – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
I really hope I can stick to my guidelines as well as, like you, I am also on a very tight budget this year. Good luck to us this year, I’d say LOL! Let me know how this guideline worked for you after the season. ๐
Thanks for dropping by. I will definitely visit your blog ๐