I don’t know about you but gift-giving season pushes me to my limits. I am not nearly as organized enough, and it drives me crazy. I thought we were doing so much better this year. We had almost everything bought before December hit. Then we started trying to make sure we actually had everything we needed and started to realize that we had over bought for some, and missed things for others. Now I am stressing!

So, it is time to figure out a way to make sure I am organized for next year. I can not go another season like this. I will lose my mind. My friend has a spreadsheet she uses. It seems there are some different suggestions out there. I’m on the hunt for the one that will work for me and my family.

Organizational Ideas

• Spreadsheet
  • who
  • what
  • need
  • have
• Apps
  • Christmas Gift List for android ($0 on Google Play)
  • The Christmas Gift List ($0 at Apple App Store)
  • Elfster: The Secret Santa App ($0 at Elfster) – I use this one for gift exchanges, but never thought of it as a way to organize my gift giving. I don’t think I would use it for that
• Lists
  • on your phone
  • in a notebook
  • in your planner

Which Works Best?

I’m going to say that a list does not work for me. That is what I’ve been using, and it just isn’t doing its job. I started a spreadsheet today but didn’t get very far on it. I’m also concerned that this will have the same downfalls that I have with lists. I can’t carry them with me everywhere I go. I can’t constantly add to them, or check off items if I don’t have them easily accessible. My phone is always with me though, so maybe an app is the way to go. It is probably too late to start it now, at least for us, but it seems like a plausible way to make next year smoother.

What works best is going to be different for each person, or family. My friend rocks her spreadsheet, it is what works for her.

What do you think will work best for you? Do you have something that already works, something that you and/or your family are rocking? Please share!