Why it pays to start shopping for Christmas gifts early

With Christmas right at the end of the year, you’ll be forgiven for not wanting to think about shopping for gifts until at least December. It seems like such a long way off with plenty of time to buy presents for loved ones. You have so many other daily expenses, that Christmas shopping just doesn’t seem a priority.

Really, the earlier you start the better off you are financially. You can take advantage of bargains throughout the year, and an added advantage is you‘ll miss the Christmas rush.

If you wait until the Christmas period to start your shopping, you’ll have to spend a huge amount of money in one go. It can be overwhelming, leave you out of pocket and have you reaching for those credit cards. It’s much better to avoid those high interest rates and possibly creating unnecessary debt.

Make a list of the people you want to buy gifts for. Check your monthly budget and decide how much you can afford to spend on a few people each month. You can start your Christmas shopping from as early as September. Also consider shopping during summer or January sales. When you go to the shops keep an eye out for gifts you would like to buy people on your list and stick within your budget. If you can’t find anything one particular month, put the money you have allocated away until you do find a suitable present.

Good financial management means planning, budgeting and saving your money. You want to be better prepared for the unexpected, as well as take care of every day spending.

So, why not write up your Christmas gift shopping list this week, start your shopping early and get ready for a stress free, debt free Christmas.