Thrifty Harper: Christmas in Autumn

One of the things you realize when you step outside the realm of retail and into the realm of thrift is that the winter holidays (and birthdays) happen once a year. This sounds like common sense, but if it’s so obvious, why do we all wait until December to start buying?
 
Retailers condition us to think that December is the appropriate time to start shopping. Their goal is to get you to think that there is one specific time to go—when it will be the most confusing. And then there is that dreaded moment when you can’t find anything to get for your friend because either the perfect item sold out, or nothing struck you as “good enough” for her, and it’s three days before Christmas and you find yourself wrapping a set of fancy soaps or lotions. Yes, you’ve given up since Christmas is too close and so you’ve ended up giving her one of the least personal gifts possible.

Let’s also not forget that moment that has happened to every one of us—after spending hours at a department store we find a sweater for our sister on the 60% off rack, making it a great gift, only to find out, after waiting in line 40 minutes to get to the register, that the sweater is not actually on sale. But, defeated, we pay the extra 60% deciding that we couldn’t go home empty-handed after all that waiting. If Christmas is going to come every year, why do we only shop for it during the “Holiday Shopping Season?” It’s as if on Black Friday we look at our calendars and see that some mysterious new event has popped up onto December 25^th and now we have to go shopping. We should shop victoriously, not out of stress and brainwashing.

So this year, why don’t we start looking for those perfect items earlier? We should save ourselves time and anxiety, and if we see that perfect book or piece of art, just pick it up then and put it in a bin under our beds until the Christmas season. Shop sales outside of the crowded Christmas sales. Columbus Day weekend is fast-approaching and is an excellent time to get holiday shopping done. Break out of the stressful shop-only-in-December retail mentality and conquer your holiday shopping list!
  
Don’t know how to get started? Here’s a quick run-down:

1. Make a list of people you’re shopping for. Carry it with you every time you go out. You might run into the perfect gift when you least expect it.
2. When you make a purchase, cross the name out and write what you bought for them. Otherwise, you’ll forget whom you bought the cake pedestal for and be thoroughly puzzled when it comes to wrapping time.
3. Store the gifts somewhere safe. For those of us living in dorms, I recommend your closet or in a bin under your bed.
4. Feel confident in knowing you got a great chunk of your shopping done ahead of time!