How to Make a Christmas Shopping List

Series Summary

Christmas is a time for family and rejoicing, for celebrating the good things we have in life. Christmas is also the time during which retailers and advertisers bombard the senses, desperate to get those dollars you've worked so hard for. But unless you're okay with losing a few friends, and possibly being ignored by a few family members, you are hopelessly obligated to get something for everyone you expect to speak to for the next year or so. Shopping for Christmas gifts can be source of extreme stress, trying to stretch your limited budget and still pay the bills. But Expert Village offers these free videos to help you create and execute a holiday spending plan that won't leave you eating nothing but black eyed peas for the entire month of January.

Expert Melissa Schenk will teach you how to budget your holiday spending, first by making a Christmas shopping list, setting a limit on Christmas spending, and how to fine-tune your budget by brainstorming for gift ideas and separating your gift spending from your other holiday expenses.

Video Transcript

"Hello my name is Melissa Schenk and on behalf of Expert Village today we're going to be talking about how to budget for Christmas. In our first clip all we need is a pad of paper and a pen. What we want to do is to brainstorm and make a list. Make a list of the people we want to shop for. Make a list of the places you want to go, the people you'll need to see, the things you'll need to buy. So we're talking about do you need gas for your car this holiday season? Are you going to need new decorations for your tree? Do you need a Christmas tree? Do you need a wreath? Do you need Christmas lights? All of those things of course cost money. So when we're talking about budgeting for the holiday season, we're talking about decorating. We need to think about food. Are you having a party? Do you need to buy alcohol? Do you need to buy things from the grocery store? Are you having the party at your house, or at somebody else's? Do you need hostess gifts? You can see the list goes on and on. So that's why you need just to brainstorm. The first thing, don't get frustrated, just don't get overwhelmed. First and foremost just brainstorm. Make a list of again, things you'll need and people you'll want to buy for. Some families, only buy, you know, a couple of gifts for, they may draw names, so you may only have one person to buy for. Or you might have your mom or your dad, or your grandmother your grandfather, your brother your sister. Just first and foremost start off by making a list. "