Don't Shop Till You Drop

Smart Strategies

-Organize your shopping list by category rather than by person. That way you won’t backtrack between departments in stores.
-Designate one area in your home to store gifts as you buy them.
-Take your address book with you when you shop so you can have packages shipped from the store.
-Stock up on batteries on sale year-round. By December, you’ll have plenty on hand.

Easy Wrapping

-Hang on to those small shopping bags with handles. When you need to wrap an oddly shaped item, cover the store name with wrapping paper cut in the shape of a tree or a star and tie handles with a bow.
-Ask for a box with everything you buy, even non-gifts.
-Wrap gifts as you buy them. Identify each family member’s gifts with a different paper or write initials on the bottom.

Simple Gift Giving

-If you and your spouse have a hard time buying for each other, agree to save your money for something big such as home improvements or a special trip.
-Give a whole family one gift, such as tickets to a play or holiday pageant, a booklet of movie passes or restaurant gift certificates.
-Don’t hesitate to give cash to those who want or need it. If you feel it isn’t
festive, wrap it in a pretty box or put it in a piggy bank. It will be appreciated.
-A great gift doesn’t have to be a surprise. If you always get your mother a new calendar (and you know she likes it), make it a tradition.
-Do a big shopping sweep in one or two stores. The usual stops are toy stores, bookstores and stationery stores, but don’t overlook museum shops (great toys and jewelry) and gourmet food shops (something for everyone).
-Choose gifts that don’t require shopping, such as magazine subscriptions and museum memberships.
-If you find a gift you like, buy several and give the same thing to a few people.
-Agree with friends not to exchange gifts but to meet for lunch at a new restaurant or for a massage.