Christmas shopping in May

Today, i purchased my first Christmas present of the 2015 holiday season.  Very excited about that!  i was searching through various things on ebay and ran across something that i think will be perfect for one of my friends.  So, i bid and i won.  Yippee!  Now, it may seem too early for most of you to think about Christmas shopping, but not me.  i begin thinking about it the day after Christmas.  But, today was the first time i have actually bought something this year. 

i take pride in my gift giving ability.  Anyone who knows me can attest to that.  i like finding those perfect, unique items that people will not be getting from anyone else.  That is one of the joys of starting my shopping so early.  i can take my time in finding things that are unique and can rest assured that i have accomplished that goal.  If you ask anyone who has received a gift from me, they will tell you that most likely is not something i picked up at Walmart.  Now, things like cds and dvds, yes i will get those at regular retail shops.  But really, what is the fun in that?  There's no creativity behind it.  But, i will use things like that to supplement the rare find that i also give them.

Another reason i like to start so early is that, in the long run, i save money for the types of gifts i like to give.  If i wait until the last minute, i end up spending way too much on things that i am not 100% certain of, just for the sake of giving something unusual.  That's not much fun either.  There is always that feeling in the pit of my stomach when i watch someone open a gift that i am on the fence about.  i don't like that feeling  lol!

One of the secrets to good gift giving is paying attention.  Listen to what they say.  If they show you something online, file that away.  Chances are, people will forget things and move on.  But, when i go to that file cabinet in my head, i will find so much information that all i have to do is type in a few descriptive words from the file and start shopping.  And it is much more fun to shop for things that you know will be different, yet meaningful to people.

So, yes, i have officially started my Christmas shopping.  It's early....but it's exciting....for me, at least!