Gift Giving: How To Stay One Step Ahead

Always scrambling at the last minute picking up cards or gifts? Here’s an easy system to implement for yourself so you’re always ahead of the game:

• Keep a Rubbermaid tub for gifts. Keep your eyes open year round for special deals and buys, and pick up items that you know will make a great gift for someone. You can have a nice stash of 6 to 12 gifts that are inexpensive yet lovely to receive. You’ll always be ready for last-minute gift giving.

  A few ideas for gifts to keep on hand: School teachers, music teachers, tutors, secretaries, boss, co-workers, housewarming, coaches, thank you gifts. Have a nice mix of feminine and masculine gifts, that way you’ll always have something on hand.

• Buy and store a set of cards to keep in a file folder or large envelope. Easy to store in the gift bin. Some assortment ideas: birthday cards, anniversary, wedding, baby & wedding showers, thank you cards, as well as sympathy cards.
• Prepare a giftwrapping system with everything needed for wrapping and mailing (cards, giftwrap, tape, marker, pen, scissors, ribbon, padded envelopes, return address labels). You can store these together in a small plastic bin to place in your gift tub–keeps everything from rattling around loose.

Store all items above in the Rubbermaid gift tub–this gives you a “GoTo” gift spot where everything is stored and ready.

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