A gift closet is a handy way to make sure you’re prepared for any gift-giving occasion that comes your way. If you’ve got a family with kids, then you probably like to keep a few child-themed presents on hand, just in case your child comes home and reminds you about someone’s birthday at school. However, you can also expand this closet to cover all kinds of occasions.
A good gift closet will save you money and time when you’re trying to simply enjoy your life and manage your budget.
So how do you create a fantastic closet? Here are some top tips.
1. Make a list of Your Occasions
At the beginning of each year, write a list of all the special occasions coming up that you might need to buy presents for. This includes things like birthdays, anniversaries, and even presents for graduation, promotions, and other things that might not happen on a yearly basis.
The chances are that you’re not going to be able to think of everything that might happen when you’re shopping for gift ideas. For instance, what if you suddenly need to buy a get-well gift for someone in your life? No worries grab a few gifts that will appeal to anyone for these last-minute surprise celebrations. That might include candles, a pair of fluffy slippers, or some other basic items that are good enough for any special day.
2. Keep Track
When you take an item out of your gift closet, you need to update your inventory. You could simply make a note that you need to replace a gift for a young girl, or a promotion gift on your diary. Alternatively, just make a list of all the items that you have, so you can check through everything quickly and see if you’re missing anything that you need to have on hand all the time.
Maintaining a good inventory and organizing the gift closet so you can sort through items easily will save you a lot of time. You might even decide to split the gifts you have into groups based on the kind of occasion they’d be great for, or the sort of person who would like them.
3. Don’t be Too Specific
The chances are that the items in your gift closet will be used for presents that aren’t as meaningful as the ones you buy for your kids, your partner, your parents, and very close people. You may have a different section to your closet where you store gifts that you’ve seen for someone you know that will be perfect for them later on. However, most of the time, this is where you’ll stock generic presents.
With that in mind, try not to get anything that’s too specific. Just because you see a monogrammed pair of socks on sale doesn’t mean you should buy them – as there’s always a risk that you’re never going to have to give something to someone with those initials.
4. Know When to Stock Up
Speaking of keeping your gift closet well-stocked, make sure that you know when the best time is to start stocking up on extra presents. There are certain points in the year where you’re more likely to find discounted items on sale. Take advantage of those times. You might even decide to buy some extra gifts when you’ve got some extra money in your bank account.
If you end up with a bonus from work and you want to make sure that you’re extra prepared, buy some gifts now before the money you have starts to burn a hole in your pocket. Finding the right times to shop is one of the most valuable things you can do with a gift closet.
5. Store Wrapping Too
Finally, remember that the gift wrapping is just as important as the present. Make sure that you have a solid supply of wrapping paper, as well as gift bags that you can use for bottles and other items that might be more difficult to wrap. If you like, you can splash out on extra things like ribbons and bows for when you want your gift to really stand out.
Make sure that you have wrapping options that will appeal to everyone in your circle, including girls and boys, and those in between. Gender-neutral wrapping paper and bags will save you a lot of headaches in the long term, as you won’t have to worry about running out of pink, blue, or other gender-focused colors.
I do like the idea of finding special buys all during the year. Then I have the right gift for the right occasion.
These are great ideas. I always try to have gifts stashed in the closet so I am always prepared.
I have a friend that does this and always has just the right gift at a moments notice. Your ideas of keeping track and not being too specific are good ones.
A lot of good ideals here. The one thing I never though about was keeping a inventory. I don’t have a closet, I have two large drawers free. I am one of those people that are on the hunt all year long for things for family and friends. And when you find a really good deal on something never hurts to buy several.