Finish addressing your Christmas cards, and begin writing little personal notes in each one before you seal it.  If you do just a few cards a day, the task won’t be overwhelming.  If you usually write a Christmas letter, get it written now, and make enough copies for everyone.  Don’t have your cards yet?  Go to http://www.bobbibopstuff.com and you’ll find some great buys on quality cards.

Prioritize your final list, and keep your eyes on the ads to try to find as many of the items you are looking for on sale.

31-Oct

            It’s Halloween, and unless you are going to a party, this is the perfect time to finish off your Christmas Cards, or to start if you haven’t already.  I find that there is little time between answering the doorbell to accomplish much tonight, so I use the time to sign and address Christmas cards.  I’ll often include little notes, or add to my notes on those cards where I wrote notes earlier in the year.

1-Nov

            If you have little children on your Christmas list, one of the most fun gifts I have ever given was a dress-up box.  The kids loved it, and played with it for years.  The few days just after Halloween are the perfect time to purchase items for this gift.  For boys, super hero costumes are the best.  Be sure to buy costumes in sizes larger than the child so they can play with them for at least one or two years.  Usually 2 sizes too big is just right.  Girls love princess, fairy, and other filmy, frothy type dresses.  Dress up shoes, jewelry, tiaras, and boas are very popular.  Avoid masks.  All these items will be on sale, and you can usually fill a whole box with dress-up for under $20.

2-Nov

            If you are mailing Christmas packages overseas, pack them up, and mail them this week.  You can mail later, but you will pay far more, and run the risk of having them arrive in time for Valentine’s Day.

3-Nov

            Finalize Thanksgiving plans.  If you will be working on a large meal, work on the menu and make a list of everything you need to purchase.  

From now on, every time you purchase a gift or clothing item at department stores, ask for a gift box.  Even if you don’t intend to give the item as a gift, save the boxes for your Christmas wrapping.  You’ll probably find that you won’t need to spend any money on gift boxes at Christmastime

I’ll be going for a walk in a few minutes this morning.  One of the things I decided long ago was to give up a club membership to save money.  Walking and weight training at home don’t cost a thing and we have saved about $4000.00 since I quit going.  I was missing the hot tub after the workout every day, so we took our savings and waited until we could make a special deal on the hot tub we wanted, and it is now sitting outside right next to our patio.   Saving money for special purchases often makes you wait a while before you get something you want, but it also gives you lots of time to select the right product, and keeps you from making impulsive purchases.  As I said a couple months ago, you may regret certain purchases you have made over the years, but you will never regret saving money