Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of IHeart Radio.

Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's tip is that if you see a great gift for a friend or relative, get it, even if the only gift-giving

occasions are months away. Santa's workshop runs all year long, and the rest of us are wise to shop

at times beyond December 2. So you may finally be exhaling after the holiday sprint and feeling relieved that the gift shopping season is behind you, at least until next December.

I am right there with you. So take a little break to recuperate. But after that, keep your eyes open for great gifts for celebrations yet to come.

There's no reason to only shop in December or in a mad dash right before someone's birthday.

Stretching things out a little can make everything more thoughtful.

So if you have a niece who loves unicorns and you see a cute unicorn pencil pouch,

get it, even if her birthday isn't for months. Do the same if you see an electric guitar-shaped

cookie cutter for her brother, who plays the electric guitar and loves to bake. Have a central place

where you store all the gifts you buy ahead and label each gift,

a sticky note will do, with the intended recipient. It can also be helpful to record the gifts

you've bought in the intended recipient somewhere, ideally in a place you'll look, before

whatever occasion you'll be giving these gifts. If it's Christmas, you can make a big master spreadsheet or list somewhere.

But if it's for a birthday, maybe put a note a week or two before the person's birthday on your calendar.

So you know your past self, squared this away.

Way to go, past self.

Now, just one caveat.

Sizes and interest change, particularly for kids so if you are shopping in february for a christmas gift for your young niece maybe consider if there is a backup person

who might also like the gift if she swears off unicorns forever. There are several benefits to shopping all year.

I know this past Christmas I felt a little crunched in the ten days before the holiday,

and that stress made me feel less festive in general.

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