The Best Time To Start Buying Christmas Presents

When the holidays have (mostly) ended, the last thing we want to think about is buying Christmas presents for a holiday that is (currently) months away.

However, the best time to buy is now!

Are you looking at me like I have two heads?

I mean, where would you store the presents until Christmas? (And not forget you purchased them.)

How would you resist giving them early?

Valid questions, but as the answers would vary from person to person, they are more something to answer on an individual basis, and not what we will be tackling today.

Why Start Buying Christmas Presents Now?

From a financial standpoint, you could actually spend more if you wait until November or December to purchase presents … because stores anticipate this behavior, and up the prices to make more profit. Although not necessarily every store is guilty of this, definitely watch prices throughout the year and you’ll see what I mean.

Also from a financial standpoint, if you purchase presents throughout the year (spread out) instead of all at once, you could spend the exact same amount on presents but experience less stress financially – because it’s less money coming out all at once. Most people have an easier time budgeting in fifty dollars (give or take) in a month or pay period, than budgeting in (what could be) a hundred dollars (probably more, depending on how many people are on your list) all at once.

From a stress/overwhelm standpoint, November and December already tend to be hectic. The last thing we need to worry about is buying presents on top of everything else! If you purchase presents early, then that is already done – check it off the list, mama!!

Speaking of stress and overwhelm, the week before Christmas can be hectic – so consider checking out The Week Before Christmas (Saving your Sanity) not just for ways to, well, stay sane, but to save your THM willpower, too!!

Keeping Track of Early Present Buying:

Worried about how you’ll keep track of presents if you purchase them early? Here’s a few of my favorite tips and tricks.

Start with a list of names – people you want/need to purchase for.
Write WHAT you purchased for WHO on either the same or a separate list.
Have a (secret) area to stash presents, and use the same place each year if possible.
If there is someone in the house who cannot resist peeking, save their presents for the end of the year – it will still help with the financial strain and overwhelm!
Same goes for those you can’t resist giving presents to early – hold off on purchasing (unless you find the PERFECT gift) until later in the year – and if you do happen to find the perfect gift that you just have to buy now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with gifting it early, telling the person it’s their Christmas present, and then giving them something small on the holiday.

There you go! Purchasing Christmas presents early has been a lifesaver in my home for many years now, and I hope it will be for you, as well.

Are you an early present purchaser? If not, why not? Let me know in the comments below!