Okay, so it doesn’t have to be a “closet”, it can be a drawer, shelf, or box.  In other words, do you have a stock of gifts that you have purchased in advance (or are going to re-gift)?  Having some gifts on hand is great for those last minute invites or the times when you forgot someone’s birthday.  Shopping for gifts this way can also save you money.  My sister-in-law, for example,  shops for Christmas all year long, and puts everything into the gift closet with a tag for the intended recipient.  She only shops sales and has plenty of time to wait for the perfect gift to be the perfect price.

Many of my friends have gifts that they have purchased in advance or plan to re-gift but the gifts never seem to leave.  Why?  Because they don’t remember what they have.  They purchase a gift, put it away in their gift closet and then add more and more and pretty soon, forget that they purchased the perfect gift for someone and it lays gathering dust in the back of the gift closet!

The solution: (you knew I had one)

As you purchase gifts, log them on a gift list.  This can be done on a handwritten page or on a spreadsheet in your computer.  Here’s an example:

Add things to the gift list as you add them to the gift closet.  If you purchase an item that does not have an intended recipient (yet) then just note what gender or age range it is for.  As you give these gifts be sure to cross them off the gift list.  Update your list annually after Christmas so you can start fresh.  If you begin to have things in the gift closet that never get given away, then consider using these items for hostess gifts or white elephant/secret santa gift exchanges.

And remember, shop in the gift closet before you leave home to shop!