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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10 Items I Always Buy at the Dollar Store

The Dollar Store is one of my favorite places to visit. Every time I go in, I feel like a kid at Christmas. There are always new items and everything is only $1. While there are certain items I wouldn’t recommend buying at a dollar store, there are a lot of good bargains. I’ve put together a list of ten items that I always buy at the dollar store. 

These are items that are often much more expensive at other stores and are still a decent quality.

Greeting Cards

I’ve seen greeting cards priced as high as $6 at some stores, and on average, find them for between $2 and $4. But the dollar store has a huge variety of cards for all occasions and they are only $1. Our dollar store also has a section for 2/$1 cards and they are just as nice as a $4 card you’d find elsewhere.

Gift Wrap

I typically use gift bags and tissue paper to wrap most of my gifts and that can get expensive. The dollar store has really nice gift bags for just $1 and packs of tissue paper holding 10-20 sheets for – you guessed it - $1.

Storage / Organizing Containers

When I’m working on an organizing project at home, I usually shop my house first for any containers that I might be able to re-purpose. When I can’t find something at home, I check the Dollar Store before going to a thrift store or other store. Our dollar store carries plastic storage containers, fabric storage boxes, baskets, and bins of all shapes, colors, and sizes. I can usually find something that will work for my needs, even if I need to manipulate it a little bit to work. This is how I was able to organize our entire RV for less than $40.

Holiday Décor

Honestly, Christmas is about the only holiday I decorate for. But each season, the holiday décor selection at the dollar store changes and it’s usually pretty nice stuff. Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Saint Patrick’s Day, and Valentine’s Day are popular decorating holidays and the dollar store comes through with tons of fun décor for super cheap. At Christmas, they carry bulb ornaments and other tree décor that you just can’t find for that price anywhere else.

Picture Frames

When I need a small picture frame for a project or a gift, I check the dollar store first. I make sure to inspect the frame for any scratches or dings and especially check the glass for any cracks or breaks. I bought a batch of 12 8x10 frames at the dollar store to use for our wedding décor. The frames hold up well and by far beat the other store prices of $5-$30+ for frames.

Dishes

I don’t buy my regular dishes at the dollar store, but I do buy dishes to be used as gifts. For example, last Christmas I purchased some coffee mugs at the dollar store and filled them with different drink mixes like hot cider, hot cocoa, and coffee. These made nice gifts for neighbors, co-workers, and other hard-to-buy-for people on my list. They also carry plates, bowls, and regular drinking glasses.

Party supplies

Planning a party? Go to the dollar store! They have party décor, crepe paper, blank thank you notes, balloons, and other items that make decorating for your event a breeze (and pretty inexpensive).

Kid Gifts

As more of our friends and family have beautiful babies, we are being invited to more kids birthday parties every year. Not wanting to go empty handed, we often visit the dollar store for gifts. The dollar store has puzzles, activity books, coloring books, colored pencils, crayons, regular books, and fun arts and crafts kits for kids. Shopping here allows us to get more gift items for less. I make it a point to pick up a gift bag and card at the same time!

Mailing Supplies 

Mailing out items can get expensive quick. The dollar store carries large and small clasp envelopes, cardboard boxes, padded envelopes, bubble wrap, regular envelopes, and packaging tape that make shipping easy and affordable!

Office supplies

When I need note paper, note pads, sticky notes, pens, pencils, poster board, or other basic office supplies, I usually check with the dollar store first. They also typically have binders, binder dividers, file folders, and report covers.

Bonus Item: Kitchen utensils

I was hesitant to include this item in my list because you have to be careful what you buy here. The dollar store sells a variety of kitchen utensils like spatulas, spoons, measuring cups, bag clips, pizza cutters, etc. Some of the stuff is a bit cheap. You don’t want to end up with melted spatula as part of your grilled cheese sandwich. But I have picked up a couple pairs of kitchen scissors (I use these all the time), bag clips, and cutting mats at the dollar store and I haven’t had a problem with any of them.

I make most of my own cleaning products now, but I know a lot of people buy cleaning products at the dollar store as well.

Overall, this wonderful place saves me a ton of money each year and is always one of my favorite stops when I'm out and about running errands. 

What items do you buy at the dollar store? Do you agree with my list? Have something to add?

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10 Steps to Create a Menu Plan

Let’s take a poll. 

How much stress do you feel when you hear this question: What’s for dinner? 

a.) None
b.) A little
c.) A lot

Most people, especially those with kids, would probably answer c, a lot. To reduce this stress in our home, I try to plan our meals in advance so that both the Mr. and I know what’s planned for dinner each night. I’m here today to share that process with you.

To reduce grocery expenses and avoid excess spending, I recommend setting a weekly or monthly grocery budget for you and your family. While this isn’t a necessary step in the meal planning process, it gives me a starting point and a goal to reach when I’m making my shopping list. This amount will vary greatly based on your household income and size of your family. Set a number that works best for you.

To keep this process organized, it helps to keep your meal planning supplies in one place. Grab a pen, a pad of paper or meal plan printable, your family’s favorite recipes, new recipes you’d like to try, coupons, and local store ads. Consider keeping these items in a binder, folder, or basket stashed in a place that is easy to access.

I create my meal plan on Wednesday afternoons and usually do my grocery shopping Friday evening or Saturday morning depending on our plans for the weekend. Stores seem to be well stocked on Sunday’s and Monday’s when the new sale ad goes into effect, but these days don’t work well with my schedule. Set a day or day range that you will typically do your shopping. Then, set a 30 minute window of time in your schedule that you will devote to meal planning prior to your shopping trip. Make this a strict date with yourself to keep that stress level down.

I look through two ads each week to see what is on sale at our local stores. Sometimes I write items down, other times I just make a mental note of items that are on sale. Obviously you don’t need to write down EVERY item on sale. You know what your family likes and the items you’re used to buying, so jot down any significant sales on those items. 

Sometimes just a quick look through the pantry or the freezer will help you remember that you have 12 cans of diced tomatoes or 5 pounds of ground beef you forgot about. Jot these items down as well.

Take a look at your calendar to determine what your family’s schedule looks like for the period you are planning for. There will be some days that you have events elsewhere and won’t need to cook (like a church potluck or neighborhood party). There will be some days when you know you will have about five minutes to prep for dinner and other nights where you may have 35 minutes. Make a note of these things on your pad of paper or menu plan. If we have a family gathering at Mom’s house on Saturday for dinner, I will write “Mom’s” under Dinner on Saturday. This reminds me I don’t need a meal for that day.

Take a look at your family’s favorite recipes and match recipes to items that are on sale or items you have a large supply of at home. For example, if pasta and pasta sauce is on a big sale one week, I might plan a meatless pasta meal with alfredo sauce and a meal of spaghetti and meatballs. 

List out the days of the week on your pad of paper or grab your printable meal plan. Jot down a meal for each day. On days you will be pressed for time, fill in a meal that is quick to prepare or that you can prepare the night before. 

Make a list of all the items you will need to prepare your meals for the week. I like to write down every ingredient and then go back through my cupboards and freezer and cross off anything I already have. This way I don’t miss anything. But if that is too time consuming, just write down the things you know you need to buy. 

Stick to your list and your budget. If you buy a lot of the same items each week, you will get to know how much each item costs and this will better help you prepare a plan that fits easily into your budget. I often take a calculator to the store with me and add my total as I add items to my cart. If I get to the end and see that I’m over, I can take out items that are not a necessity.

Bonus Tips:

• Ask your family members what sounds good for dinner that week. You don’t have to come up with all of the ideas on your own.

• Organize your grocery list by zone. You may not know exactly what aisle the frozen pizza is located in, but you know where the frozen food section is, the produce section, the bakery, etc. Putting your list in this order will help you to not miss anything and also speed up your time at the store.

• Pick one recipe each week to double. Make a double batch (on a night you have time) and freeze the second half for a busy night in the future. 

• Plan every component of your meal. In other words, consider side dish ideas, breads, etc that you plan to serve with dinner. This will help you avoid having to run back to the store for something to serve with your main dish. 

• Plan every meal of your week. My meal plan consists of breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks per day. We don’t always stick to this plan strictly, but it ensures that we have enough food on hand for the week. 

• Clip your recipes for the week to your meal plan or hang them on the fridge. This way, when it’s time to prep dinner, you don’t have to dig through your cookbook to find the recipe. And, if you’re lucky, someone else will see what’s planned for dinner and grab the recipe and make it for you! 

Most importantly, don't let the menu planning process create MORE stress for you. It should be a tool that helps your week to flow a bit more smoothly. Adjust these steps to what works best for you and your family. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about creating your own menu plan!

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