So my next few tips have to do with surveying your children's activities and make a list of the teachers, coaches, babysitters, dance instructors etc. that you would like to buy/make something for. This is especially helpful if you plan on DIY'ing something for a large number of people because that is just the type of thing that will have you up at 3am on December 20th covered in glitter and hot glue and cursing the month of December. I plan on doing one or two DIY gift posts, but for now here are my thoughts for those who prefer to purchase.
1- Personalized gifts from Etsy
I know this is vague, but there are soooooooo many options out there. The bottom line is, go to Etsy and type in "dance teacher gifts" or "soccer coach gift" or my favorite- "music teacher gift" and you will get everything from adorable tumblers to jewelry that are appropriate for either gender. Even if you decide not to buy, it's a good place to start for DIY inspiration! If all else fails try "personalized ____" and add an item you think they might enjoy like a keychain or a coffee mug. You can hardly go wrong with either of those items and adding their name gives it a special touch.
2- Body products/candles
This may be one of my favorites! I love getting, and people love giving, bath products for gifts. They are especially great for people that you would not feel comfortable guessing sizes for or maybe you don't know them on a personal level. If you wait until the month of December you will have tons of delicious smelling options that are holiday themed. But if you are hoping for a more wide range of scents, or if you are perhaps giving this gift to someone who does not celebrate Christmas and don't want to buy "Santa's Helper Soap" than shopping now for the summer clearance scents is a great idea. This is a particularly awesome time to buy seasonal scents if you are looking for an array of floral and perhaps apple or pumpkin fall scents. I know those are my personal favorites, and if I thought someone thought ahead an entire retail season to buy me those scents I would be very touched. You can also get great deals this time of year!
3- Gift cards
If you know that you are a one size fits all kind of shopper who sticks to gift cards for anyone that may or may not enjoy what you pick out, why not do your gift card shopping now so that the visa bill doesn't take the color out of your hair in January?! Besides much like the bath and body products, I find that the selection of designs is more appealing as well as neutral this time of year. Maybe I've mentioned this a time or two ;-), but I am a stasher. If I can accomplish gift card purchases slowly over time it doesn't hurt as much in January. It also helps to have a stash in case you have a last minute thank you to give or you forget it's the last day of a certain activity and you want to have a little Starbucks happiness to add to a card or thank you note.
The best thing you can do in order to keep both your stress level and bottom line low, is plan in advance. If you have no idea what you want to give anyone, that's OK. Even if all you do at this point is to make a list of all the people you plan on giving gifts to and set the amount you are willing to spend on each individual then you can plan your budget over the next three months. If you're going to spend a few months paying for the gifts you give, it's better to pay yourself for the few months before, rather than paying the credit card company with interest after.
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