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One reason I like when friends had gift registries for their weddings and baby showers is that I know that I'm getting something that they really want and/or would need.
I especially appreciate this as I'm cleaning up the house and going through all of our rooms and closets, sorting everything that we seemed to have accumulated over the years.
My hope is to plan my gifts in a way that allow me to give my loved ones something thoughtful (while staying within my budget).
Saving Up for Gifts
While I've given gifts spontaneously (they're fun), some of my favorite ones are the planned gifts where I found JUST THE RIGHT gift for my loved one.
Having some money saved up and stashed away just for gifts has given me opportunities to pick presents up without stressing over.
For me, I find it incredibly easy to just set up transfers into my personal savings account to keep me on track.
Automation allows me to build my savings as I go about the rest of my finances.
Planning Gifts
Every once in awhile a friend or my family will ask me what I want and when I'm put on the spot I draw a blank.
I also hate when I'm looking for a gift for someone and I know they've mentioned at some point something that caught their eye and for the life of me, I can't remember it.
I found a simple and handy solution for both problems – creating gift sheets. I have a document on my Google Drive to handle both situations. Having it online allows me to check it where I go.
Another option is pinning on pinterest, it's quick and easy to set up a board just for gifts.
I prefer using a spreadsheet because I also make notes on prices to make sure I get a good deal. Even with planning, I still have a budget that I have to keep with.
Thoughts on Planning for Gifts
I like to hear from you about how your save for gifts. How organized are you when shopping for gifts? What gifts do you like to receive?