An Organized Christmas Part 6: Gift Inventory {Free Printable}

The Christmas bargains have already started! We’ve seen photo gifts, Disney deals, and American Girl deals. As much as I love a great deal, I have to be very careful this time of year.

I have a bad habit of not keeping track of what I’ve already bought. I’ve been known (more than once!) to double-buy gifts for people on our Christmas list. The good news is that I’ve been able to use the extra gifts for birthdays or the following Christmas. But the situation is completely avoidable with a little organization.

Enter the Gift Inventory. 

What’s a gift inventory? I’m glad you asked. I have been using this tool for the past few years, and it’s a lifesaver. It’s a simple chart that allows me to track who I’m buying for, what I want to buy, what I’ve already bought, and where I am in the whole buying-wrapping-mailing-giving process. You can download your own Gift Inventory printable here. If you have a big family, print lots of sheets. If you want to list each gift on an individual line, print lots of sheets. Use it however it works for you. I print lots of sheets and give myself a ton of room to work.

I also use our Gift Inventory as a budgeting guide. Each year we sit down with the inventory sheet and fill in the names of the people we’re buying for. Then we place a dollar amount by each name. Maybe this doesn’t sound like holiday cheer to you, but it sure will when Christmas is over and there aren’t credit card bills waiting to be paid! Staying within our Christmas budget makes for much happier holidays around here.

I’ve tried using this organizer in an electronic format. That works for online shopping, when I’m home at my computer. But it doesn’t work for those quick trips to the mall or those times when we just happen to see something that would be perfect for so-and-so. Now I print Gift Inventory and carry it in my purse. That way I can check it before I buy the perfect gift for someone I’ve already bought the perfect gift for. 🙂

This type of organization works for me and my family. Do you have a gift organization method that works for you?

You can catch up on the other posts from the series An Organized Christmas here. I hope that you’ll join me in making this Christmas more meaningful and peaceful.

I’m sharing this post at:
:: Works for Me Wednesday hosted by We Are THAT Family
:: Thrifty Thursday hosted by Coupon Teacher
:: Frugal Friday hosted by Life As Mom
:: Finer Things Friday hosted by The Finer Things in Life