Tips on Saving Money as a Bargain Christmas Shopper

Christmas is a wonderful holiday filled with present swapping, eggnog, and quality time with relatives you haven't seen all year long. Well, that's what we like to think. Realistically, there will be a bigger dent in our wallet than we could've anticipated, and we spend every waking moment balancing our checkbook like an accountant during peak tax season. It's a downer during a time that should be full of fun, and as the list of gifts grows, we can't wait for it all to be over.

There are ways to correct this and have a great, stress free holiday season. The trick to the whole she-bang is planning. Last minute shopping makes you run around with no direction, and as a result you'll spend more on gifts just to simply have the pleasure of marking their name of that list.

First of all, Christmas shopping should start January 1st. We all know that prices are inflated come Christmas season, which means you'll be spending more money on the same product simply because you waited like the rest of the idiots. Try and get your Christmas list done by the end of November.

Start with the list. Of course we all feel the need to buy a present for everyone we know, but starting now you need to throw that approach out the window along with the money you've been wasting. I like to think I'll only buy gifts for those that I truly think will buy me a gift. Does a co-worker's wife really need a present from me? No. Therefore, I scratch her off the list.

Group gifts work well. If a group from work is pitching in five dollars a piece to buy the big boss man a new putter for his golf collection then get in on this. Don't feel the need to stand out and buy a present for him yourself. Group gifts are a great way to spend less money, yet still find a much nicer gift. Plus, brainstorming sessions work well. Once you've figured out who you're buying for, you need to address what you're buying for them. Set a budget for each individual. The purpose here is to stay organized and watch your money before it starts to spread like wildfire.

Shopping year round is my number one method for saving money on Christmas gifts. The stress of having to stuff all your shopping into a 30 day time frame is enough to live by this rule. But aside from stress, keep in mind that not all the great sales happen the day after Thanksgiving like all of the malls advertise. If someone on your list loves baseball items, then October may be the best time to buy because baseball season is wrapping up. The same can be said for fishing or boating equipment after summer is over.

Find the nearest outlet center. You'd be amazed the kind of deals you can find. Every year I go to the outlet centers in Myrtle Beach where there is an array of high end clothing stores such as Kenneth Cole, Banana Republic, and Ralph Lauren. I'll spend $25 on a button down shirt that normally costs me $45, and the person receiving the gift doesn't know otherwise. They praise me for the gift and say, "Oh you shouldn't have spent that much on me," leaving me to think, "I didn't!"

If you're crafty then a great idea are premade gift baskets. Instead of purchasing a $50 gift basket, you can buy $10 worth of goodies and assemble it yourself. These goodies can range from candles, bubble bath, bath beads, to kitchen items like oven mitts, pasta, and spices. Throw them into a basket, tie it with some sort of cute ribbon, and you've got a $45 dollar gift basket. Well, at least they don't have to know you only spent $10!

Let's say you have an extra bread maker, still in its box, from when you got married. You have no use for it, but you think your cousin, a wiz in the kitchen, might appreciate such a gift. Put it in a nice box, tie a pretty ribbon around it, and maybe throw in a nice loaf of bread that you bought from the discount Merita store and you're a hero to your cousin.

You always have the option to give homemade gifts. These include baked goods, ornaments, and furniture if you know your way around the workshop. Don't feel guilty for not spending a lot of money with the homemade gifts. The truth is, you're putting in twice the amount of work and it will be even more special if you did more than just swiped a credit card.

Those are just a few ways that you can bargain shop throughout the year for Christmas presents. Save yourself the stress and the money. Start early. And remember, Christmas shopping doesn't just start the day after Thanksgiving!