By getting a head start on your holiday shopping, you'll avoid the stress that comes with having to select, buy and wrap 10 presents in one afternoon. This will give you the luxury of being able to focus on those last 1 or 2 gifts that tend to pop up ("Oh, shoot! We forgot the sitter!") just days before the big day. With enough planning, you may even get to enjoy your free time doing something more enjoyable like treating yourself to a massage or a quiet afternoon at home.

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Make Your List, Check It Twice

Santa is a big fan of lists, and there's a good reason for that-they are the perfect opportunity to see exactly what you're dealing with. A great place to begin your holiday shopping plan is to create a list of who you'll be shopping for and what your budget is for each person.

This is also a good opportunity to start thinking about any specific gifts you want to give or stores you know you'll most likely visit. While knowing who you'll be shopping for and which price points to stick to is the goal, you may want to create a separate mini-budget for any unexpected gifts you haven't accounted for (like a gift exchange at your office or a last-minute holiday guest).