But for me, my shopping juices begin to salivate when I can begin to see the first signs of Christmas. I like to get a head start on the holiday craziness. It’s not the shopping I love, it’s the act of getting the shopping done that I enjoy. I actually detest the commercialism of Christmas and continually strive to find ways to work around the hoopla surrounding the day.

Several years ago I found myself close to a nervous breakdown because my husband wanted to relax on Christmas Eve. I thought to myself, Relax? Are you kidding? We have so much to do – presents to wrap, stockings to fill, stuff to assemble, food to prepare, and on and on … and on went my list of things that were overwhelming me.

It was after that point that I have truly made a concerted effort to have all of my holiday shopping done before Halloween. Don’t get me wrong. I have found some fantastic deals at the after Thanksgiving sales, but for the most part that really only pays off if you’re shopping for big-ticket items. If that’s the case, you can still purchase other items in advance and wait for one or two pricier gadgets to hit the big sales.

Of course, this is only possible to accomplish with careful planning, organization, and, dare I say it, downsizing of gift buying. I’ve gotten a lot of slack over the years on this particular concept. I have found that Christmas is far more enjoyable for everyone this way. I have to be deliberate in my purchases because I can only pick those things my children really want so I spend a lot more time selecting each gift.

I know my plan works because I enjoy Christmas more than ever and I’ve never heard my children complain about not having a great Christmas. Instead I hear words of joy like, “That’s the exactly what I wanted! How did you know?”

Does finishing your shopping sound like mission impossible? It’s really not. Here are three steps to get you singing “Jingle Bells” before the last leaves fall off the trees.

1. Make a list of all of the people you need to purchase gifts for. Try to consider downsizing or coming up with other ways to give this season, such as homemade gifts, service, etc.

2. Keep a notebook handy to jot down possible gift ideas for special people in your life. If you keep it all written down you’ll be able to make a budget and keep track of what you’ve purchased and what still needs to be done.

3. Find a spot to stash your stuff. I have a few great hiding spots my kids haven’t discovered yet. I even use the garages and closets of friends to keep my kids from snooping around. Don’t forget to write down your secret spot on Santa List so you’ll know where to retrieve come December.

Even though the retail world has turned the spotlight to Back to School shopping, now is the perfect time to cash in on those clearance racks filled to capacity with bathing suits and Capri pants. Here are my tips for making the most of the clearance sales so you’ll be set for next summer.

1. Buy for now and later. You may find that your kids are short on shorts or have hit a growth spurt and have already grown out of their bathing suit. These summertime items, which normally run $10-20 each, are now reduced by 90 percent and are sometimes as low as $1.99. If your kids are well stocked for this year, consider stocking up for next year. Most of the time you can guesstimate what size your kiddos will be by the next time summer rolls around. It’s also a great time to make purchases on adult apparel, too.
2. Beware of bargains that aren’t such a great deal. Not all clearance racks are created equally. Thirty percent isn’t much of a discount. Dig a little deeper or don’t be afraid to walk away if it’s not in your price range. The whole idea of a clearance rack is that it’s supposed to save you lots of money or it’s just not worth it. Don’t be lured just by the idea of a sale. You have to know what the original price in order to determine if it’s a good enough buy to make the cut. Look for special one-day sales and coupons you can use to get an additional 10 to 50 percent off the clearance price. Those tend be the deals that pay off the most.
3. Stock up on non-clothing essentials, too. Plastic plates and cups, bug spray, beach towels, and sand toys are also filling up clearance sections as stores make space for pencils and papers. Again, those same deep discounts can apply to these seasonal items so keep your eyes peeled for items that you’d like to have on hand next Memorial Day and beyond. Some items, like sunscreen, can expire, so make sure you know an items storage limitations before you purchase them.
4. Tuck it away for safe keeping. Since it will be another nine months before you’re looking for some of these items, you want to store these items somewhere you can find them when you need them again. I store our items in a plastic Rubbermaid tub that I label and then put on a shelf in the garage.