One of my favorite tricks for staying on top of gift giving is maintaining a 'gift closet'. I keep an eye out for specials and sales all year long, but especially after each holiday. If I find something I know someone would like, I buy it and store it in my closet.The gift closet is also good for those little gifts you give to drop-in visitors, or as hostess gifts. I also like to store inexpensive gifts for children--very useful when they visit and get tired of chasing the dogs. (The dogs always thank me.)
I have all manner of items in my closet. Tools, wine accessories, music CDs, crystal, Christmas-themed gifts, stuffed animals, card games, and assorted tins (in case I get the crazy notion to bake cookies).
To create a gift closet:
• Scout sales and clearances
• Buy for men, women, and the children in your life
• Buy non-gender gifts for those unexpected visitors
• Unless you KNOW an expensive item is perfect for someone special, don't buy it too far in advance of gift-giving in case it needs to be returned or exchanged.
• Buy nice gifts. Anyone can pick up the trashy stuff at the end of aisle four.
• Buy things that appeal to you. In case you never get a chance to give it away, it'll always be nice to have around the house.
Most people think of Christmas shopping in November, but I try to keep it in mind all year long, kicking it into high gear by August.
Do you have a gift closet? What do you like to buy for friends and family?
18 comments:
raelynbarclay said...
I LOVE this idea. HOWEVER...kids. If I buy something, even if it isn't for one of the boys, they WILL get into it. We save a lot of our big purchases for the after holiday sales.
Maria Zannini said...
Raelyn: With your boys you might need a closet with a lock--or better yet--a SECRET closet.
I know how that was for my parents. They couldn't keep anything away from us. My mother used to hide things she didn't want us to see in some ridiculously tall cabinet.
raelynbarclay said...
There isn't a lock invented that they haven't gotten into or broken in the attempt, LOL.
One year we hid the Christmas gifts in the attic crawl space. We need a ladder to get to the panel so no way the boys could get in without us knowing, right?
Huh!
The little daredevils figured out how to jump from the railing (over our stairs!) and hit the panel enough to open it. This was followed by someone jumping from the railing to grab the edge and pulling themselves up into the attic.
Yeah, after we realized they'd gotten in we had to figure out how and they were more than happy to demonstrate their skills. Yet I can't convince any of them to get into gymnastics, sigh.
Christmas and birthday gifts are now kept at That Man's office until the last minute, LOL
Maria Zannini said...
Raelyn: OMGosh! Get these boys to apply for a gymnastics scholarship. That's talent!
Angela Brown said...
I don't have a gift closet but this is the first year I started thinking of Christmas gifts in June. I started planning how to afford a few travel ideas/hopes, birthday party and birthday gifts and Christmas just got included so I could budget for it all. I can definitely see what a gift closet would be a good idea. Seriously :-)
Jenny Schwartz said...
This is such a good idea!
As an author, I've started doing this with lightweight post-able swag. Anything not too expensive that seems eye-catching, I stash away for promo tours.
Maria Zannini said...
Angela: I hate to admit this but I fell into this idea by accident when a couple of gifts didn't get delivered one year. Then an unexpected guest dropped in bearing gifts. Rather than be embarrassed for not reciprocating, I was able to give him one of the goodies that was going to go to someone else.
The gift closet was born.
Maria Zannini said...
Jenny: Yup! I was going to mention that on my regular blog.
I always keep an eye out for interesting or unique swag. Last week I came across the PERFECT gift for romance writers. I've been waiting for just the right moment to offer it as a prize.
LD Masterson said...
I need that closet! Every time I try buying gifts in advance I forget I've bought them when the time comes and buy something else or I remember buying something but can't remember where I put it.
Maria Zannini said...
Linda: Hey, you've got half the battle won. You got the stuff, now all you have to do is put it all in the same spot.
Margaret M. Fisk said...
A gift closet with small kids has another issue we ran into early on. You shop the sales and closeouts, find all these great gifts, and spread them out so as not to overwhelm...only to find the kids in your circle have outgrown them :).
That said, yes, we keep gift drawers, two because hubby likes to hide things from me :). I prefer to shop year round because if you keep the people on your list in the back of your mind, then when the right thing crosses your path at the right price, it's a no brainer. The hard times are when the holidays are nearing and you haven't found a good present.
I also find resale, thrift, and pawn shops to be good places for unique gifts. Some people you can't because they don't get it, but for most, one person's trash is another's treasure.
Shelley Munro said...
This is a great idea. My grandmother always used to buy gifts throughout the year and keep them for Christmas. I'm never organized enough.
Dru said...
I have a gift container with quilts that I've made that didn't have a home, just waiting for the perfect recipient.
Maria Zannini said...
Margaret: Not having kids, I'm always real general about kid gifts. They grow out of their interests so fast. Luckily, I always know someone with kids so the gifts don't go to waste.
Maria Zannini said...
Shelley: You have the added burden of hiding things from Bella. Has she ruined any more arugala lately? :)
Maria Zannini said...
Dru: That's an excellent idea for people who make their own gifts. There's nothing more special than a handmade gift.
Do you wrap them in tissue paper?
Dru said...
Maria, yes I do.
Maria Zannini said...
Dru: Oh, good. Those are too nice to leave without protection.