This is the third in a series of guides I'm writing on money saving tips for Holiday Shopping. If you haven't read the first two and would like to, I will include the links at the end of this one.

Who amongst us, get overwhelmed by the act of Holiday shopping in itself? That feeling alone can cost you precious dollars! If you know that you are a last minute panic type shopper, just changing your timing can save you a bunch of money. Ever been shopping for gifts 2 days before Christmas? You have a list of say 5 people to buy for and the pressure is on! You grab ANYTHING in desparation! At this point, you do not even pay attention to price and you pray they will like it. Sound familiar?

Not this year! We're going to try to change that while their is still plenty of time. This time of year is perfect for writing out your Christmas list. You will need 2 lists. One for holiday cards or newsletters and a second list for gifts to make or purchase. Do this now while the back to school rush is over and there are no other major holidays on the immediate horizon.

Great! You have your list. It's a start and probably better than where you were last year! Now, take the gift list and see if you can narrow it down to two categories: gifts to make and gifts to purchase. Making gifts can be less expensive and much more rewarding for the giver.

Set Goals!

What do I mean by this? Simple....

Card Writing Goals

1. Sign all of your cards this week. Don't have any? Get them cheaply online now!
2. Next week address them
3. The following week stamp them
4. Now they are done. One hurdle out of the way! Keep them where you will be sure to find them and mark on your calender to mail them the first week in December.

Cards are now no issue!

Gift Goals

1. If you can make a gift, start planning what these gifts will be right away. You will need some time to complete them.
2. If you need to buy gifts, start recording interests of the recipients next to their names.
3. Keep your list on you at all times! Very important, as you may hit a fantastic sale while you are out. Record what you purchase for others right away!
4. Designate a spot in the house to store these gifts. If you get a gift or two a week, not only will it be less stressful, but by planning you can shop the sales.

Time Goals

Not only is your money important, but your time is too! Do you want to rush right through the holidays, or do you want to Celebrate them? Managing your time can make all the difference. If you don't already have a day planner or large block calender, get one! Write in all invites, special events, concerts, etc as soon as you commit yourself to them!

Write in your card and gift goals! If you slack a little, don't panic, you have plenty of time to correct this. That's the whole point in starting early.

There are many other ways in which you can start preparing for the holidays early, but I thought these would be the most helpful. These three things seem to cause the most stress and last minute panic. So, if you get them organized now, you can have a little relaxation and enjoyment later.

Ask yourself this:
During Christmas week would you rather drive the kids around to look at Christmas lights and decorations or be in the mall? I love my son's excitement during our holiday drive and wouldn't want to miss that because of poor planning!

Links to the first two guides:

Do It Yourself Gift Ideas

http://reviews.ebay.com/How-To-Save-Money-This-Holiday-Season-DIY-Gifts_W0QQugidZ10000000001674390

Saving Cash This Holiday Season

http://reviews.ebay.com/More-Ways-To-Save-Cash-This-Holiday-Season_W0QQugidZ10000000001796591

Thank You for Reading this guide!