The holidays are just around the corner. It's just less than two months before Christmas which means, shoppers will start to flock the malls to buy presents in a few weeks time. But why wait for December? Now is the perfect time to start planning what presents to give to your families and friends. It's best to plan ahead and shop early to avoid the last minute holiday shopping fiasco. Shopping early doesn't only spare you from the pandemonium in malls, but it also gives you more time and even better deals. So with this, let me share to you some tips to help you plan your holiday shopping list.

1. Write down the people that you're giving gifts to. This way you could determine the number of gifts that you'll buy which your budget would depend on.

2. Set a budget for your Christmas shopping. It would be nice if you start saving as early as the start of the year so that you have enough money come Christmas shopping time. Always set a budget and as much as possible, try to stick to it. Going overboard on your budget might get you broke. Determining how much you're willing to spend per person in your list could also help in setting your budget. Don't forget to set a budget for the gift wrapping papers and ribbons!

3. Write down a list of gift ideas per person. This spares you from thinking what gift to give on the spot while shopping. It'll also save you time and effort from hours of walking inside the mall. Determine who gets the homemade gifts and the store bought gifts. This would make your shopping trip much more efficient.

4. Stick to your Christmas list. This would just make your life easier.

Gift giving need not be lavish and expensive. As they say, it's the thought that counts. Happy shopping!