Lesson Number 1: Plan.
Lesson Number 2: Start EARLY
Yes folks, its the time of year when I start my Christmas shopping. Actually, I’m late. Normally I start in July. But, well, I was a LITTLE busy in July and August. [read: BABY]
No matter. I’m starting now. I have many late-night feedings to entertain myself through. I’m using the time constructively to plan. As usual, I start with a spreadsheet. I have all the people I have to buy for listed down. I have a place to list the item I think of to buy them. I have a place to list the store/website where I can get said item. It helps me plan out shopping trips towards the end. You know, making sure I get everything I need from a store while I’m there, so I don’t have to go back multiple times. Saves on gas.
Anyways, so I’ve also got my geeky color-coding system. Blue is unplanned. Yellow is planned but not bought. Green is bought. I also have it set up so that it calculates what percentage complete I am with my Christmas shopping. Because yes, folks, I am just that geeky.
Why do I do this? Several reasons. I started because I originally didn’t have alot of spare cash laying around for gifts. So by starting early, I was able to purchase a gift each paycheck, and thus was able to spread out the cost. Later, I found that shopping in this manner meant that I didn’t spend the entire month of December doing nothing but shopping. While I love shopping, it gets a little old doing it every weekend, or several nights after work. Especially when the weather is bad. *shudder*
But face it, there’s another reason. I get a high out of planning. Makes me feel all happy inside.
So, I’m planning away, and getting ready to shop. And I came up with what I think are a couple really darn good ideas for gifts. I can’t wait to get this ball rolling. Just…need a paycheck. But that’ll be here. Just have to get back into the swing of things with work. In the meantime, I’m only about 1/4 of the way through my planning. Busy busy. Christmas is coming…
