It always seems that birthdays, weddings and Xmas all come along at once. There’s one time of year when everyone has their birthday, and of course at Xmas there’s always a frenzy of shopping mixed with despair at not knowing what to buy your extended family. There’s no need for this annual trauma however; thinking ahead and shopping throughout the year can save you time, worry and cash.

The January sales are a perfect time to make some gift investments. Spend your Xmas cash on stocking-fillers for next year. Of course, it’s too early to tell what people would really like, but if its books or accessories you can’t go wrong. A stockpile of general-purpose presents ensures that all those not-so-close relations don’t have to be worried about when the time comes.

If you spread your shopping across the year you’ll spread the cost too. If you know someone has a birthday coming up, don’t leave it to the last second to get their present; advance thinking means you can both plan what to get them, and time your shopping to afford it. Buy a few presents every month and only shop for the most important things nearer the time.

Alternatively, save a little each month in a special gift fund. If you think your friend’s tastes change too often to buy early, make sure you can afford to spend when the time comes. Make the gift fund your budget and stick to it so that you know your exact outgoings. Knowing what you can afford each year takes some of the stress out of the whole experience; you know you’ll never be in debt.

If you buy presents for lots of friends or acquaintances, you might consider buying in bulk. Have 6 nieces scattered across the country? Try wholesale jewellery

Sometimes you just can’t find what you want at home. High street shops come to seem all the same, and you wish you could find something unique and unusual instead of the same old designs. Internet shopping is a great way to find quirky gifts, from manufacturers abroad you wouldn’t otherwise have access to. The only trouble with this is the international shipping; it can take time. If you are sourcing presents from abroad, make sure you do it well in advance so that your order arrives in time. Even if the seller ships straight away, your package could get caught in customs and be delayed. Being early rather than late ensures that you won’t have to worry about receiving goods in time.

All these tips mean that you’ll have a stockpile of emergency presents, save money and be more organised. Planning, budgeting and buying when it’s cheap are all great ways to take the stress out of gift shopping.

By Mitz

Using these tips on how to save money can literally save you thousands of dollars a year You may think that these tips sound like prison camp rules, however there are a lot of ways to have fun without spending money. I guarantee you will be stress free if you follow these money saving tips.

1. Don’t buy your lunch, pack it yourself. It won’t kill you. Stop going out to dinner. Going out to dinner used to be a planned and special outing but now people eat out because they do not feel like cooking.
2. Cut down on certain luxuries like cigarettes and alcohol. I bought a packet of cigarettes for a friend the other day and I nearly died when I heard the price. Stop buying coffees at the cafe when you can make it yourself. Do not buy bottles of water.
3. Save money on your gas or petrol bills by not driving to the shop for one item. Be prepared and have what you need, and if you run out, bad luck!
4. If you have a garden, grow something. Lettuce is easy and is good for salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, and tacos. You could even grow herbs in pots on a window ledge with sun. Swap your surplus produce with others. My neighbours give me eggs in exchange for vegies from my garden.
5. Reduce the monthly bills you have to pay. Do you really need the premium internet account or the pay TV. What else are you paying for that you really don’t need. Turn your electrical items off at the wall. Simply turning the on off switch will not stop the device from using power.
6. Go shopping once a fortnight. Stick to a shopping list. Buy items in bulk and when on special. If chicken fillet is on special, have that for dinner. Don’t buy Premium Lamb cutlets at $25 a kilo just because you want them.
7. Buy second-hand items. I bought a used play station 2 console. The kids were very happy and I saved around $200. Well looked after, used cars can save you thousands of dollars.
8. Don’t buy anything unless you have the cash in your pocket. Credit cards and interest free loans are a trap!! The interest rates make your repayments a lot larger than what you actually spent.
9. Cut down on waste. Use food in your fridge before it turns bad. Freeze what you can. Eat leftovers.
10. Buy your clothes when they are out of season. You can get them for half price or less. School uniforms are great to buy second hand as your child grows so quick.
11. Look after what you already have. A little bit of maintenance goes a long way.
12. Develop a budget and try to stick to it. Its not easy but once you master it, you will never look back.
13. Get rid of that extra car. Some families have more cars than they need. They cost registration, insurance and petrol. Maybe you could do with one family car and one motorbike. You can also get a smaller car that does not chew the petrol or gas like a big one.
14. Use your computer to communicate with family and friends around the world. If you have a web cam Windows Live messenger lets you chat to people and they can see you at the same time. Play music from the internet. My children play video clips on youtube. You can also do internet banking. Read newspapers online.
15. Don’t carry cash in your pocket because you will spend it.

About the Author

Mitz Pantic wrote this article for Fill Your Money Box. See more articles that are written in an easy to understand interface at http://www.tips4pc.com/ Browse Tips4pc.com and get FREE Computer Help now!.