BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Fashion Jewelry when do you start your Chrismtas Shopping?

what's the best time to start this year's Christmas shopping and why？

The January Sales- when else?

I shop throughout the year - when I find odd/unique/different things that I don't think anyone else will pick up - I snag them.

My grandmother did this - she had 8 kids who all had spouses and grandkids. Toward Christmas, she put everyone's name on an index card or piece of paper and place things that she had picked up near everyone's name. She made some rearrangements and picked up other stuff if she needed to and everyone got something.

If I don;t have enough for everyone, then it is time to get out the glycerin, scents, and silicone baking things and make soap/gift baskets for everyone else.

ps...no credit cards needed! No bills to pay! Debt-free Christmas!

now, it is time to do now..

I usually start beginning of Nov. Just little things here and there but I find that it's so much less stressful to do it this way and spreading it out helps me to budget better. When I used to wait until last minute I would always stress more and spend more too. I'm usually done before most of my family even gets started. My boyfriend is the same.

I normally start in September watching for sales and deals on the things I know people really want. This gives me time to reflect on what a good gift would be and not just rushing out at the last minute to buy anything I can get my hands on. I try to avoid Black Friday at all costs. Of course, none of this means that I never have the last minute panic, because there are ALWAYS things I forget and end up at the store on my way to a party for a hostess gift.