Inexpensive Christmas Gifts

What's my secret? First, I go out and buy a container or a pail of some sort for each stocking that I plan to fill. As soon as Christmas is over, I start looking for great deals on little things that are just right for each person. Don't worry, just get started right now. Then after Christmas get started on ext year.

Throughout the entire year I buy small things as I see them. Every once in a while, I do an inventory of how evenly full each person's bucket is and I consciously look for ideas for those that need a little catching up. In plenty of time before Christmas, I seriously decide who still needs more stocking stuffers and who is all set and I set a goal to finish up as soon as possible.

I no longer have to spend day after day going Christmas shopping during November and December unable to come up with ideas because I have put myself under so much pressure to find the perfect presents. Now if I do go shopping at that time of year it is for fun not under complete stress. I don't have to get the perfect present because I'm getting a bunch of little things. Everyone loves surprizes and my stockings provide lots of them. At least a couple of the gifts will be perfect.

Here is the best advice. Once you have decided you are finished with the shopping, get the wrapping started right away. Assemble everything that you will need to wrap in a box, grab one of the buckets and set up in the living room where you can see the TV. Wrap everything in that bucket in one night. The best thing is that it doesn't have to be a perfect wrapping job or have a bow or ribbon. Don't even think of using good wrapping paper. Save yourself money there too and buy the thin kind that is cheaper and easier to handle. You can even use tissue paper if you'd like. After all, the wrapping will not be on display, the present will be inside a stocking or something similar and only seen seconds before it is ripped open. You won't even need a name tag, just wrap each item and throw them back into the bucket. You will be finished wrapping the contents of a single bucket in no time. The next night, wrap another bucket and so on.

You will be so surprized how fast you can wrap the contents of each stocking and before you know it, you'll be completely finished well before Christmas. All that is left is to decide what to put the presents in. You can do stockings, or just about anything. Go to a discount paper goods store and purchase Christmas gift bags or even fill a basket. I've found great small trash barrels for the kids rooms that I filled one year or small backpacks another year. Whatever you put the presents in is the only thing that you actually has to be labeled with the person's name.

Keep it simple, think about lots of little things that each person would be surprized to see and have fun with it. Just remember, decide your budget ahead of time, stick to it and use your imagination.