It’s officially November which means holiday season is in full swing. Starting with all the commercials that lit up our TVs the minute Halloween ended, it’s pretty evident the idea of holiday shopping is something we should consider getting to work on. I’m someone who loves to prepare for the holiday shopping season early (especially for those Black Friday deals!) so today I’m sharing some of my tips that I use to get myself organized for the most wonderful yet stressful time of the year!

MAKE A LIST

Start with a “Gift Giving” list of friends/family/co-workers/Secret Santa recipients to refer to when determining who you need to shop for. I like to list all the people in my family, followed by friends I know I’ll be exchanging with, and ending with office/work related parties that participate with “Secret Santa” or “Yankee Swap” festivities. As something comes to mind for someone on my list, I jot it down next to his/her name for reference when the time comes to shop.

SET A BUDGET

As much as I want to be as generous as possible with my gift giving technique, I have to be realistic about the amount I intend to spend this season. Given that I’m responsible for my own monthly salary it’s unlikely I’ll be channeling my inner “Richie Rich.” That doesn’t mean I’m destined to skimp out on getting a great deal for something on the pricier side (that’s the next tip..) but if I want to ensure I’ll have enough to spend on everyone I’ve listed, setting a realistic budget is essential.

KEEP NOTE OF DISCOUNT SITES AND ONLINE DEALS

I like to consider myself the queen of scoring deals online, all year round. Making note of the discount sites that are often selling a coveted item for less is a great way to stay on budget while ensuring your recipient will be thrilled with the gift you give him/her. I always check sites like eBay and Amazon for items that are often times priced cheaper than retail.

Another tip is to list out the websites you know will have great Black Friday deals. Think about where you shop from most often and make note of it for when Black Friday hits. Having a list you can run down by is a time saver and will help you to keep your shopping thoughts more organized and less chaotic on the day of, in my personal experience.

PS: If you happen to determine what you want to get someone on your list and come across several sites offering the same product, make note of those sites and check them on Black Friday to see which one is offering said product at an even lower price than originally advertised.

PPS: Other than eBay, I have a fab list of discount designer & contemporary sites that I’ve personally used to score some of my most coveted shoes & bags. If this is something you’d be interested in receiving, please COMMENT BELOW!

OUTFIT DETAILS

Trench: Banana Republic (similar) | Velvet Tee: LOFT | Skirt: ASOS | Heels: Steve Madden | Bag: Gucci | Lip Color: Bobbi Brown ‘Plum’

….