It’s that time of year!! The holidays are here and I love all of it. Well, maybe not all of it… I don’t like shopping during the holiday season and spending a ton of money on gifts. Now, I may be biased because I worked retail during college and into my early 20’s. Working retail during the holiday season is just NOT fun for me. People are not happy and they’re not jolly. They’re mean and inconsiderate of others. I said it and I’m not apologizing for it.

However, I do have a solution for the dreaded holiday shopping season– Don’t shop. Seriously, don’t shop at all. We already know Christmas is the 25th of December every year. So why not save yourself some grace and shop throughout the year. My holiday season shopping gets cut off around the beginning of October. That means I have everyone’s gifts neatly stored in my secret hiding place. With this method, you’re not having to endure the traffic, long lines, delayed shipping, stress of having enough money, etc. It’s peaceful over here.

I learned this tip from my mom. Between work, kids, holiday decorations, and holiday feasts, she wasn’t about to stress herself out. Now this was before Amazon and online shopping, so I get it. As a mom myself and implementing holiday traditions for my family, this method just works best for me.

For me, it’s easier to shop throughout the year because it eliminates the pressure of making the holiday deadline. I start by making a list of the items I want to buy for my family. There’s even a list of random gifts for co-workers, teachers, neighbors, etc. Let’s be honest, we know stores hold sales throughout the year. We know certain items are seasonal. It’s also much easier to spend $50 on a gift one month versus spending $500 on everyone’s gifts at one time. Create a strategy and make a plan.

After making my list of items that I plan to purchase, I can pretty much plan a budget by researching stores and the item’s pricing. I can also take the time to find alternatives if needed. I, now, have the time to shop clearance items and look for deals. This way, I’m not blowing the budget and stressing about spending too much money. I can also plan for those larger priced items as well. So when the holiday season comes around, I have the luxury of spending time with family without the holiday stress.