I know you don't want to hear this, but Christmas is 10 months from today.

Since I want you to be relaxed and ready when Christmas Eve rolls around, I'll be posting another year of the Christmas Countdown to keep you on track.

• As you travel for spring break or business, think about picking up small unique gifts from local shops.
• Consider picking up gifts at season ending sales on winter merchandise. For example, I got my fireplace set at 75% off because it was late March. You can also get good deals on winter clothes and sporting goods.
• If you like to make gifts, now is a great time to start thinking about what you'll make. Some things take a long time or are easier to make seasonally. For example, if you want to give folks homemade strawberry jam, you probably shouldn't plan on starting in October! These late winter days and rainy spring and summer days are a great time to craft.
• Begin chatting with your loved ones about where you plan to spend the holidays. The sooner you decide, the sooner you can start watching for airline sales. Also, if you'll be hosting, you can pick up things you need for entertaining over a longer period of time.
• Begin saving for your holiday expenses. Saving a little each week is far easier than trying to save large amounts in the fall and far less painful than facing huge credit card bills in January. Take a look at last year’s budget. Was it realistic? How much do you need to save each week to have the money put away by October 1^st? Is that a realistic savings goal? If not, start cutting now. It’s easier to make good choices when you have time available. (Also, keep in mind that buying things off season can let you get more bang for your buck! For example, you may be able to pick up new or like new Christmas decorations at a yard sale or thrift store for a fraction of the price.)
• Make it a point to avoid buying more than you need. You'll save money and leave things for people to buy you as Christmas gifts!