Start planning now for holiday season
With some advance planning, the coming holiday season can be less expensive and stressful than if you wait until the last minute.
“Before the shopping season arrives, calculate your total gift budget. Rule of thumb: If you use a credit card, can you pay off the balance in three payments?
After you’ve determined your budget, make your recipient list. Note a few gift ideas beside each name and the dollar amount you can’t exceed for each one.
“Stock up now on gift wrap and extra tree decorations. They’ll likely be last year’s stock, but the prices will be lower.
“If you plan to give gift cards this year (the easiest way to shop), make sure you understand how the card works: There might be fees that reduce the amount of the money on the card, or a deadline.
“If you’re going to travel over the holidays, book your reservations now. Plane seats go quickly, and so do motel rooms. If you plan to drive, start looking for coupons for oil changes and tire sales, if you need them soon.
“Consult with extended family about not exchanging individual gifts, but perhaps sending one gift to the whole family.
“If you’ll be hosting guests over the holidays, start buying on-sale items you’ll need, such as paper goods and new linens for the guest room. Spread purchases out over the next month or two, the cost won’t be as bad as if you’d waited until the last minute.
“Take advantage of catalog shopping to avoid the mall crunch later on. Call to make sure your items are in stock now. (Shop the Internet if you like to compare prices, but make your purchases by phone.)
“Make note of post office mailing deadlines. For domestic parcel post delivery, keep an eye on the news during the first part of November, as mailing deadlines will be announced.
If you’re mailing packages to troops overseas, that deadline is Nov. 13 for Christmas delivery to APO and FPO addresses.
If you want a package to arrive by sundown on Dec. 4 for Hanukkah, the mailing deadline was Oct. 23 for sending by parcel post, which is the slowest delivery. Other (more expensive) options are Space Available, Parcel Airlift and Priority.