As an (ex) engineer, I am typically one of those well organized, thorough, list-writing people that tends to have everything mapped out and ready to go months in advance (another less attractive word for it might be anal). I think I got it in part from my mother, who started buying Christmas presents in June, hiding them in closets and under the beds (she wasn’t fooling anybody). When I got a little older I teased her about it when she continued to ask me what I would like for Christmas months in advance. But now that I am a mother, and older, guess what? I see the wisdom of her ways, and I am doing the same thing…

So how can you take advantage of planning ahead, and how can this save you money?  Here are some ways to do this:

Find gifts at sale prices. Retailers aren’t stupid, that is why they created the “after Christmas sale”! If you create your list early (now!) and start watching for the item(s) to come on sale, chances are you will save a significant chunk of change by shopping during “pre-holiday” periods.

Avoid the last minute rush on the year’s trendy gifts. Remember the frenzy over cabbage patch dolls, and more recently, the Nintendo Wii? If you can even find the year’s most popular gifts, you will likely pay a serious premium for getting it if you wait.

Propose a change to the family gift-giving rules. Many families are facing difficult economic conditions due to unemployment, higher living costs, foreclosures, etc. If it makes sense for instance to propose drawing names this year instead of exchanging gifts with the entire family, planning ahead far in advance will allow sufficient time for planning and adjustment to the change.

Use the internet for price comparison, coupon codes, and price protection. Frequently, a quick online search can find coupon codes good for product discounts or free shipping. Often, an item you can find at Target (for instance) you might find online for cheaper, with a coupon code. If you start watching for coupons in advance for the items you have decided to purchase for the holidays, chances are you’ll find a coupon if one is available. Additionally, there are websites where you can make record purchases and they will provide email notification to you if the item’s price drops below what you purchased it for, and you may be eligible for a refund of the difference (if within the store’s price protection period). One such website is www.PriceProtectr.com.

Avoid layaway fees. This is one method of planning ahead that rarely pays off. There is little justification for paying fees to layaway items, you are better off paying the money into a savings account (like a Christmas club account) and getting interest on it, then buying the item last minute, even if you can’t find it on sale.

These are just a few ways that starting early and planning ahead for your holiday purchases can save time and money. Remember, time IS money, at least for the majority of us! Readers, if you have some additional early holiday purchase planning pointers to share, we welcome your comments!

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