Don’t look at me like I’m crazy. I know no one wants to think about the holidays for at least another ten months but this is the best time to start thinking about them.
Look for after-Christmas sales and stock up on items like wrapping paper, gift tags, and gift card holders. I will often pick up a few ornaments to give away the next year as well. I love to give an ornament with a gift card or just as an add-on gift and I was able to pick up several awesome ones for about 25 cents each this year!
Set up a holiday account, whether through a holiday account at your bank, in your regular savings, or even a shoebox in your closet! Think about how much you spent this year at Christmas, divide it into ten or eleven months (depending on when you start Christmas shopping), and start saving each month. Sitting back your holiday money will make you feel so much better when the holidays roll around next year as you won’t have to stress about coming up with the money in the middle of all of the holiday parties, events, and big payments such as end-of-the-year taxes.
Save what you can, even ten bucks a month will give you $100 in ten months. You could at least buy gifts for your kids or closest loved ones.
Do yourself a favor and put a little thought into Christmas this January and you won’t have to put so much thought and stress into it when the time comes!
I like your thinking! I do the same exact thing. As soon as the after Christmas sales start rolling out I’m the first to take advantage. As you said, you can find great deals on holiday themed cards, wrapping, toys,etc. My girlfriends call it weird, I call it being smart.
Saving For Christmas is a good idea collect money and spend it when required. i am going to open a saving account to enjoy my Christmas.