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It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

© Karen Jenista

The kids are at the neighbors' pool, the calendar is clear of appointments, the phone is off the hook. It's the perfect opportunity to snatch time for my secret summer ritual. I pour a tall glass of iced tea and settle in my favorite chair. I take pen in hand and begin The List. That's right-I slip into my role as Summer Santa.

Lest you think I'm kidding, let me remind you that we have six kids and one military paycheck. If I waited until Thanksgiving weekend to prepare, we'd have to celebrate Christmas in February. By Thanksgiving I usually lack only an item or two, or am waiting for deliveries.

I know it's sunny and hot, and your mind is occupied with the beach and barbecues, trips and tans. December is months away. Goodness, you have to survive the beginning of school, Halloween, and Thanksgiving before you can even think about Christmas.

That's exactly why it's sensible to play Summer Santa. After you consider the benefits, you'll wonder why you haven't done it before.

Shop Smart. With a list in hand, you know what you're looking for before you head out the door. That means less impulse buying, no throwing your budget to the wind. A list will remind you how much you planned to spend and, if you're shopping for several people, prevent an imbalance you might not recognize if you're in a rush.

Save Money. By starting early, you have a multitude of sales to shop. You can take advantage of end-of-summer clearance sales, back-to-school bargains, and pre-season sales. Take your time and comparison-shop.

Gain Time. Our extended family is scattered across the country so we mail a lot of Christmas packages. Early shopping ensures those gifts will get to their destination with time to spare. Knowing ahead if some of our gifts will be handmade allows us to complete the projects well in advance of a looming deadline. You'll also have the opportunity to order gifts and receive them in time. Best of all, no waiting in snaking lines.

Beat the Rush. Remember the Cabbage Patch craze? The Furby frenzy? Tickle-Me Elmo? Even if you're not shopping for the fad of the season, chances are you have some highly popular items on your list-the latest video game, the hottest book, a CD by the artist at the top of the charts. Why risk disappointing your loved ones? Shop months ahead of the crowd and shelves will be stocked, selections will be wider, and you'll preserve your health.