Minimize the hustle and bustle and stay on budget this holiday season

The holidays can be overwhelming. You only have so many hours in a day, your gift list is long, and your budget may be tight. A bit of up-front planning and prioritizing can help save you time and money. Here are a few ideas to help you minimize the hustle and bustle, stay on budget, and find more peace this holiday season.

• Organize your shopping trips—Try to centralize your shopping. Create your gift list first and then identify the stores that carry the items you need. Try to select stores close to one another. This will reduce mileage and keep the fuel budget in check.
• Purchase in bulk—If you’re creating multiple gift baskets with similar content, try buying items in bulk. This will help you save significantly from what you would pay for items individually.
• Think simple—Expensive gifts aren’t always the most appreciated. Consider gift ideas that are simple, useful and thoughtful. For example, if you have a dedicated “puzzler” in the family, give them a unique and big (1,000+ piece) jigsaw puzzle with the promise that you’ll assemble it together. Also consider homemade gifts such as soaps or a crochet blanket. Thoughtful framed photo collages can also be a big hit.
• Shop Local—Check out your local small businesses and farmers/artisan markets this holiday season. You will likely find far more unique gifts at much lower prices. You’ll also be supporting your local economy to boot.
• Start early—Strive to complete your holiday shopping by early December. This will save you the chaos of over-crowed shopping malls and those last-minute pricey impulse buys. You’ll have peace of mind knowing your shopping is complete, and you can concentrate on what matters most…quality time with those you love.

From our family to yours…we wish you a happy, calm and budget-friendly holiday season!