Every year I tell myself the same thing…
“Start holiday shopping EARLY this year so I’m not scrambling for last minute stuff come mid-December when everything is total chaos!”
And every year, without fail, I still find myself shopping and wrapping up until the last minute.
THIS year, I’m making that proclamation again, but I’m committed to sticking to it. Between working 3 jobs (my day job, my blog, and my Usborne Books business), figuring out which kids are going to daycare or preschool each day, getting meals on the table, and keeping the house looking semi-clean (the thing on the list that always seems to fall by the wayside), my plate is FULL.
And honestly, once the holidays roll around, I’d love to have one less thing to worry about so I can just maybe relax and…actually enjoy the holidays! Maybe I’ll even get some more cookie baking in this year (some of my favorite cookies to bake can be found in THIS POST!)?
So in order to make that happen, I’ve already started to plan out how to get my shopping done EARLY this year. Here are 7 things I’m doing…
Make a List
We have a few more people on our list this year (daycare, preschool teachers, etc.) so I’ve made sure to take the time to write EVERYONE down. The last thing I want to have happen is think that I’ve finished my shopping and realize I’ve missed someone!
Start shopping online
I love online shopping. It’s quick and easy, and it doesn’t involve me having to cart either of the kiddos to a store.
Set a budget now so there is no scrambling come December
Jay and I put aside a money every paycheck to go into a tax-saver account, which we use to…pay taxes. However, this year, we purposely put a little extra in there to be able to use for the holidays. Even if you haven’t started yet, it’s not too late to start putting a little aside each paycheck – we still have a couple of months to go!
Utilize social media for gift ideas
Never underestimate the power of social media. I can’t tell you HOW many times I have seen something on a fellow blogger’s site, or on a social media channel and thought AH HA! I need that! Many bloggers will also start putting together gift guides, which can be super helpful for when you’re looking for those hard-to-shop-for people in your lives!
Take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday
This goes without saying – there are always some GREAT deals to be had on both of these days! I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled and am *hoping* that these days will be a couple of the last days I’ll need to worry about shopping this year!
Go DIY
There really is nothing like a homemade gift, is there? Something that someone willingly put time and effort into is always so, so special. And if your budget is a little slim, this is definitely a great way to cut on costs, too. Browse around Pinterest or Etsy for some great ideas!
Take advantage of early deals
Many stores start holding special sale events early in the season, so be on the lookout! In fact, this Sunday, October 16th from 6-9pm, Sears.com is holding their Member Bonus Event. And for the first time ever, Sears is introducing a Holiday Guarantee: when you shop in-store during the Sears Member Bonus Event on October 16th, if any item purchased goes lower in the same store between that night and December 24th, Sears will automatically credit you the difference back in points, up to a maximum of $100 in points per member.* That includes Black Friday doorbuster pricing, too!
(*Points to be awarded 1/16/17)
So if you’re not already a Shop Your Way® member, you totally need to check it out. It’s a FREE social shopping destination and rewards program offering millions of products, personalized services, and advice. The program rewards members for buying the products and services they want every day. Members also have access to special pricing, sales and digital coupons that can be loaded directly into your account. To become a Shop Your Way Member sign up HERE!
And to help get you started on your holiday shopping, Sears is offering one lucky STSL reader a $100 gift card!!
To enter to win the $100 Sears gift card, check out the Rafflecopter giveaway below! I’ll choose a random winner on Friday, October 14th. Good luck and happy holiday shopping!
Disclosure: I am a member of the Sears Squad and this blog post and giveaway are both sponsored by Sears. Thank you for your continued support surrounding sponsored content on STSL <3
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