Mark all special

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.  

If you normally travel by air for the Thanksgiving or Christmas Holiday, book your travel now.  You’ll probably get better pricing.  Use one of the on-line travel sites if possible to compare prices.  Sometimes, just changing your arrival or departure times or date can save you a bundle.  If you are paying air fare for several family members, you can usually take an extra day off work to leave before the rush, and the amount you’ll save on airfare will often be more than 1 day of lost wages.   

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

Review your calendar for October, and budget how much you will be spending for each gifting occasion.  If you normally purchase a Christmas present for those same people, plan on purchasing the Christmas gift at the same time.  Remember to record the purchase in your book.