Some people love Christmas shopping, they can't get enough of the decorations, music and people crowding the shops and malls as the big day approaches. Others dread the thought; there is nothing that these people would rather do than pick gifts out of a catalog or off a web site and have them delivered. Either way, early Christmas shopping can have benefits.



With the kids back to school and Thanksgiving still I've noticed that some stores are starting to put Christmas decorations out. Could it be? So early? Then I thought about it; I've already picked up a few gifts for the kids, small things that I may not be able to find later. Die cast cars from the Disney movie of the same name, Pirates of the Caribbean action figures and some mutant ninja turtles accessories. All of these things are popular right now and available, but once the silly season hits, you never know.

Other than gift availability is there any other reason to do Christmas shopping early? You bet there is, how about spreading out the financial damage. If we were in a perfect world we would all have a Christmas slush fund ready to go at any time, but if you're like me, you find yourself a little short later in the year and have to make some serious decisions about your gift buying. Purchasing some of the gifts earlier in the season leaves you a little more flexability in December...flexability to pick up that one last must have gift.

Although I do enjoy getting some of my shopping done early, I recognize that the toys that kids want on September 1st are not the same ones they want on December 1st. In kid land, popular toys come and go and what's "cool" today may not be popular four months from now. Be careful when shopping early. If you're buying toys you need to get the ones with staying power, classics like building blocks, models and Barbie. Stay away from buying video games months in advance, because for sure if you do they'll have played the whole thing by Christmas at a friends house and will be bored of it. Either that, or a new latest greatest game will be out that they want more. A perfect case of that is Halo 3 which will be coming out late in September. Every teenager with an XBox 360 is going to want their copy of Halo 3, but buying it now and waiting to give it for Christmas will be a mistake. Even if the game is still popular at Christmas, the price may have dropped by then.

The same rules that apply for video games apply for DVD's as well. Don't go buying the latest release in September as a Christmas present. Chances are that if the person you are buying for really wanted that movie they'll have seen it or purchased it in the time in between. Clothing is also difficult to buy early unless of course you have a special occasion coming up. Say your intended recipient is going on a tropical vacation in January. Then some summer clothes would make a perfect Christmas gift, and one that you could pick up at a bargain at the end of summer clearence sales.

I could go on and on with examples of good and bad early shopping habits, but it is enough to just acknowledge that shopping early can be a good thing if done correctly. Try it yourself and you might just find yourself with some extra time, and money, on your hands in December.