Stay Organized for the Holidays! Start a Gift Closet!

Would you like to be more organized and prepared for the holidays? Would you like to have planned ahead for people's birthdays, already having a gift in hand? Would you like to take advantage of the great sales when they happen, finding what you need and not having to run out at the last minute?

I bet you said "yes" to every single one. If you did, then what you need to consider starting in your home is a gift closet. Now a gift closet does not actually need to be a closet, or an entire closet that is dedicated to gifts. It can even be a single shelf dedicated to gifts. But what you do need is a private space in your home that the children do not know about - so they don't get too curious and won't go poking about to find an early birthday or Christmas/holiday present. A gift closet can keep you organized, help you save money and relieve you of lots of gift shopping angst.

Start by clearing the area in your home where you will keep gifts. Make sure it has a door you can close, or even a blanket that you can cover things with. The key is you want to keep things hidden. This is especially important because you will probably be buying things for your immediate family.

Next make a list of the family and friends that you usually buy gifts for. Write down their birthdays next to their names. Put the list somewhere you can see it in the closet, and also write down a copy for your datebook. When you look at this list, you will probably see that several birthdays are coming up in the next three months and these gifts you will need to buy immediately - but the other gifts you can take more advantage of sales and great opportunities.