It is never too early to begin the Christmas shopping process. Even if it is the week after Christmas, which is an awesome time to buy next year's gifts. Shopping early has multiple benefits, one of the main benefits, not running around like a crazy person with all the other people trying to find gifts. However, for families with children, early shopping may not always be the best idea or it could be an excellent one, but the main reason for early shopping is co-workers, aunts and uncles, grandparents, friends, and siblings, leaving the children for the Thanksgiving sales is understandable.
Reasons to Shop for the Holidays EarlySummer is a great time to go ahead and buy Holiday gifts for family, especially towards the end of July through the beginning of September (Labor Day sales). Reasons for shopping during this time include:
- No Holiday Traffic
- No gigantic lines at every store entered
- Easier access to decent parking spaces
- Less stressed store employees (even if it does not seem so, it very much is, anyone who has worked retail or in any store can probably agree)
- More likely to find items being sought
- Christmas in July sales
- Reduced prices on many holiday items online (many stores, companies, even eBay, offer holiday sale items throughout the year and, if lucky to find, in stores)
- Personal favorite reason: Coffee and food lines are short and one can still order Peppermint mocha's at Starbucks in most areas year around
Christmas Gifts to Buy Early
Focus on family and friends. For some, it may be as easy as ordering gift baskets from Hickory Farm in December for everyone or just buying gift cards at a specific store, one store for men and one for women. Even as easy as that is, it can add up. A quick tip in this case:
- Have a Christmas account ready to use when the holidays hit-specifically for friends and family
- Set a specific amount for family and friends-same or more for one, less for the other
- Know how many are being bought and if it is going to be an individual or couples gift
- Gift cards to favorite stores
- Canned jelly and jams (prepared at the end of summer, store in the cupboards, decorate with gift tag and ribbon and give along side crackers or biscuit mix, easy peezy)
- Make-up Sales, end of summer sales make a great time to hit the make-up aisles or department and maybe even score a free gift to keep or give
- End of summer clothing sale for men and women, stores have huge sales during this time and even towards Thanksgiving when it comes to Fall apparel. Look for sales items, especially in stores like Target, in the back near dressing rooms. In fact, some winter items from last year are still in stores but marked down 80-85% in some places. The other day, at Kohls, I bought a $37 long sleeve shirt for $9.95, marked down 3 times-pretty good deal. It takes some searching but is worth it.
- Books or planners or calendars, go ahead and get some books or planners for the following year .
Lotions, Body Wash, and soaps are always a good buy but many stores seem to have spectacular deals on these items at Christmas and offer added bonuses. If buying for kids, end of summer is a great time to buy clothes, but it might be better to buy a size up in pants-if it's an infant or toddler, stick to the size they will be at Christmas-parents will use it at some point. As for toys at this point, keep it simple-stuffed animals, Imaginext or Legos, Lincoln Logs, toys that make noise, Mattel cars, bubble machines, ball and bat, summer items that will not be available come Christmas. Happy Holidays Everyone!!!
