Get Organized to Save Money This Holiday Season

Most people celebrate a holiday in December that involves gift-giving.  Some people shop a little each year and others (like me) wait until the last minute.  No matter which type of gift-buyer you are, there are strategies to help you be more organized and, as a bonus, save money during the holiday gift-giving season.

Keep a List

List out the people to whom you’ll be gifting.  Make note of how much you’d like to spend (or your maximum dollar amount).  As you purchase items, make note on the list that you did so, and what the gift was.

Store Smart

Pick one location where you keep pending presents so that you don’t lose track of them.  You’re not saving you money if you purchase a sale item and then forget all about it.

Shop Smart

Use your list so you remember everyone you want to gift to and so that you don’t forget what you already purchased.

Gift Considerately

This might seem obvious: Choose gifts that the recipient might appreciate.  Be careful of the trap of buying gifts that you would want, but that the gift recipient wouldn’t.  This common error is the cause of many pieces of clutter, wasted money, and guilt-filled returns and donations.