8 Steps to a Less Stressful Holiday Shopping Experience + FREE Shopping Plan Printable

My mister and I budget for Christmas year round, meaning that each paycheck, a little bit of money goes into a “gift fund” that we use to purchase not only Christmas gifts, but birthday gifts and other presents throughout the year. Regardless of whether you budget for Christmas year round or not, having an organized approach is key to a less stressful holiday shopping experience. 

Organized shopping, to me, means having a plan and setting up a budget ahead of time. To make this easier, I've created a free holiday shopping printable that you can download and use to organize your upcoming shopping experience. Click here to download it!

Let's walk through the plan together.

Step One: Determine your budget

Many people start their shopping process by making a list of who they need to buy for. I say start with your budget and fit your list into it. Decide on a predetermined amount that you’re willing/able to spend on Christmas and write it down.

Step Two: Make a list

Once you have an overall budget amount in writing, make a list of every person you intend to buy a gift for.

Step Three: Check your list twice

Rethink your list you created in step two. Are you forgetting anyone? How about teachers, neighbors, hair stylists, mail people, co-workers, church members, etc? In order to stick to your budget, you want to avoid those last minute I-forgot-to-get-a-gift-for-so-and-so moments. 

Step Four: Assign a denomination to each person on the list

Divide your total budget among all the people on your list. Maybe you want to spend more on family than on friends, or spend more on children than adults. That is all up to you. Divvy up your total budget to each person until it’s all accounted for. Don’t forget to include wrapping/shipping supplies in your budget too! Those expenses can add up quickly.

Step Five: Generate gift ideas for each person

Now that you have a maximum spending price for each person on your list, brain storm some ideas for gifts in that price range. Many websites like Amazon allow you to search for gifts under a certain price. You can also find a lot of gift giving guides online that offer suggestions for certain age groups, family members, etc. Don’t forget about handmade gifts too. You could bake some special treats, make a craft, give a photo in a nice frame, etc. Sometimes those handmade gifts are much more meaningful than something store bought.

Step Six: Research the average cost of your gift ideas and narrow them down accordingly

If you have a $10 limit for someone, and find that 3 gift ideas cost $20 and one costs $8, stick to the gift item within your budget. Then, check leaked Black Friday ads, Amazon, and other retailers ahead of time to determine the best price/location to purchase your gift. Two weeks ago, I started seeing leaked Black Friday ads, so they are out there! If you are hand-making gifts, check ads for ingredients and supplies.

Step Seven: Plan your shopping route ahead of time

Take a look at your list and decide which items should be purchased online and which items you need to visit a brick and mortar store. If you are relying on Black Friday sales or cyber Monday sales, make a note of which stores/websites you need to visit either day. 

Step Eight: Make your purchases

Keep track of how much you actually spend on each gift. If you end up under budget, you could buy something for yourself, add a small gift to someone on your list, roll your savings into next year’s holiday spending, or donate it to a local charity. 

Don't forget to download your free printable to help you organize your shopping list according to the steps above. Take some deep breaths and get organized now so that your stress levels remain low and you can truly enjoy this holiday season. 

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By the way, how are you doing on this month's organizing challenge? Don't forget to share your photos on Instagram or comment on the challenge post with your results!

Do you budget for holiday spending year round? How do you keep your shopping list organized?

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