We’ve posted some amazing deals again this year, and if you’re anything like me, you may have overbought just a tad. I like to wrap early so that I can easily hide items and get a better idea of what I’ve purchased, but it never fails- the minute I finish wrapping, something happens that requires me to make changes. I may have overbought for someone and want to pull a few gifts out for birthdays or the gift closet, pick up a last minute sponsored family and need to rearrange, an item may have been recalled, or even find something much cheaper and need to return.
I came up with a little system a few years ago that not only solves these problems, it also adds even more fun to the gift opening! Instead of labeling each gift with a name, I put a small number in the corner. As I wrap, I jot down the number, the item inside, the value, and the intended recipient on a master list that is hidden in a top secret location. This allows me to easily locate gifts and make any necessary changes without anyone noticing.
I always go back through a bit closer to Christmas and properly label the gifts for those that won’t be spending Christmas morning with us. If we have a busy day full of family gatherings, I’ll also label our gifts. If we’re going to be home most of the day, I’ll skip labeling them altogether and give each child a list of their numbers or read them off and let them search for theirs. This helps us to slow down the opening and enjoy it even more.
Do you have any special wrapping traditions? We’d love to hear them!