1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning, 2 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: tip is that if you see a great gift for 4 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: a friend or relative, get it, even if the only 5 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: gift giving occasions are months away. Santa's Workshop runs all 6 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: year long, and the rest of us are wise to 7 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: shop at times beyond December two, so you may finally 8 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: be exhaling after the holiday sprint and feeling relieved that 9 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: the gift shopping season is behind you at least until 10 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 1: next December. I am right there with you, so take 11 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: a little break to recuperate, but after that, keep your 12 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: eyes open for great gifts for celebrations yet to come. 13 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: There's no reason to only shop in December or in 14 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,479 Speaker 1: a mad dash right before someone's birthday. Stretching things out 15 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: a little can make everything more thoughtful. So if you 16 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: have a niece who loves unicorns and you see a 17 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: cute unicorn pencil pouch, get it, even if her birthday 18 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 1: isn't for months. Do the same. If you see an 19 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,839 Speaker 1: electric guitar shaped cookie cutter for her brother who plays 20 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 1: the electric guitar and loves to bake, have a central 21 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: place where you store all the gifts you buy ahead 22 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: and label each gift a sticky note will do with 23 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: the intended recipient. It can also be helpful to record 24 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: the gifts you've bought in the intended recipient supwere ideally 25 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: in a place you'll look before whatever occasion you'll be 26 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: giving these gifts. If it's Christmas, you can make a 27 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: big master spreadsheet or list somewhere, But if it's for 28 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: a birthday, maybe put a note a week or two 29 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: before the person's birthday on your calendar so you know 30 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: your past self squared. This away way to go past self. 31 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: One caveat sizes and interest change, particularly for kids. So 32 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: if you are shopping in February for a Christmas gift 33 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: for your young niece, maybe consider if there is a 34 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: backup person who might also like the gift if she 35 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: swears off unicorns forever. There are several benefits to shopping 36 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: all year. I know this past Christmas, I felt a 37 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: little crunched in the ten days before the holiday, and 38 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: that stress made me feel less festive in general. In 39 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: the future, I'd honestly like to have all my shopping 40 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: done by the end of November, so December can be 41 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: focused on experiences, but you know, it's also fun to 42 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: buy gifts throughout the year when there's less pressure. When 43 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 1: you buy gifts ahead, you get to enjoy anticipating the 44 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: recipient's delight upon opening the gift. If you like to shop, 45 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:57,119 Speaker 1: buying gifts lets you avoid buying stuff for yourself, thus 46 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: acquiring stuff you don't need. Plus it spreads out the expense. 47 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: I know many people feel a bit tapped out in January, 48 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: so a little proactive shopping could avoid that. So once 49 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: you've caught your breath from this past holiday season, consider 50 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: being on the lookout for gifts to give the next 51 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: holiday season. If you do, you may have a calmer 52 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,239 Speaker 1: and less expensive December, and you may also feel excited 53 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: and confident about the gifts you give. In the meantime. 54 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's to making 55 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: the moost of our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. 56 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach 57 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast 58 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, 59 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: please visit the iHeartRadio app Apple podcasts, or wherever you 60 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.