After many years of fretting what I was going to buy my partner, Ann, I decided quite a few months ago to start shopping early in the year for Christmas. I don’t know about your partner, but shopping for mine is a definite challenge. Previously, we used to exchange ideas for gifts around Thanksgiving.

So, this year around Thanksgiving as we were settled in one evening, she asked me for my list, which I handed her. She then asked if I wanted her list. I smiled and said, “Not this year, I’m good.” She gave me a quizzical look.

For the first time in my life, I wasn’t challenged to find items in a short amount of time. I didn’t have to carve away time. As 2013 progressed, whenever I either spotted something I knew she would like, or I thought of making something for her, I picked it up or created the item almost immediately. A couple of the items are totally off-the-wall, and and don’t have much material value, but I am absolutely certain she will be very happy and suitably surprised.

I know you won’t be able to follow my plan this year, but there is always next year! Save yourself a bunch of anxiety, nerve shattering deadlines, and having to empty your wallet or max your card all at once. When you choose to follow the “pay-as-you-go” plan, the economic bite is spaced out, even though Ann and I place financial limits on gifts. I bet you feel better already, don’t you. The results could be VERY surprising!