I too create a budget. For friends and extended family I shop all year looking for bargains, trying to buy at least 2 gifts a month (starting with after Christmas sales). Of course along the way I find a few things for Ds's & DIL, but buy most of their presents in the late fall when the latest greatest big boy/girl "toys" and electronics come out, indicated by their wishlist. For that I have a specific amount of money set aside in my auto deposited savings account.
The biggest help was the OC suggestion of shopping for stocking stuffers all year, keeping a handled bag on a hanger in my closet for each stocking to be filled. By Christmas I usually have too much for the stocking, but it is right there and I know where everything is :applause: My DIL's if almost full already with great "girlie" bargains and sales, having 2 DS's i'm realizing how much easier it is to buy for a girl! That was always my down fall each year forcing me to hit the stores a few days before Christmas in a panic just trying to fill the stocking.
New underwear and socks are a tradition in our family, so every back to school "tax free" day I make a point to buy them. It keeps me on track, they're usually on sale that weekend and it's one more thing marked off the "to do" list.
The biggest help was the OC suggestion of shopping for stocking stuffers all year, keeping a handled bag on a hanger in my closet for each stocking to be filled. By Christmas I usually have too much for the stocking, but it is right there and I know where everything is :applause: My DIL's if almost full already with great "girlie" bargains and sales, having 2 DS's i'm realizing how much easier it is to buy for a girl! That was always my down fall each year forcing me to hit the stores a few days before Christmas in a panic just trying to fill the stocking.
New underwear and socks are a tradition in our family, so every back to school "tax free" day I make a point to buy them. It keeps me on track, they're usually on sale that weekend and it's one more thing marked off the "to do" list.