How many times have we bought something for a future birthday or Christmas present, only to forget about it, or better yet, can’t remember where we put it!

Right now, there are great deals to be had on holiday items, winter clothing, flannel sheets, boots etc. As a smart shopper, your mind goes straight to, “Who can I get this for?” Yet with stocking up on gifts comes the challenge of where to store everything.

Storage options: Store extra gifts all in one place. A closet is ideal, yet a trunk, under-the-bed bins, storage ottoman or plastic crates are creative solutions as well. When you need an unexpected gift, now you have a place to “shop” right in your own home!

Keep supplies close: Wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbon, tape, scissors and boxes should all be stored together as well. This controls clutter and makes gift giving simple and more organized. Red is an all year color for wrapping: accent with white for Valentine’s Day, black for men’s gifts, pink for women’s gifts, and a bight color for children. Wrapping supplies can add to the price of the gift so consider how to make your dollar stretch by using a “multi-purpose” color scheme.

Gift journal: Store a small notebook or calendar with the gifts as a reminder of who you bought what for. Include names and dates for birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions and sizes.

Jot down ideas for gifts you want to buy so you don’t forget. Label each gift with a sticky note.

Re-gifting: Before you ‘re-gift,’ make sure you remove any personal notes, prices, cards, etc. Always re-wrap the gift to make it look new and fresh.

Add a dishtowel to the cookbook, a bottle of wine to the glasses, or scented lotions to the extra set of towels you are re-gifting to make it unique.

I still have fond memories of the 30 lilac taper candles my mother-in-law bought for our wedding that to this day she cannot find.

By putting these ideas in place, you can take advantage of saving money knowing you have just the place to store the gifts until it is time to give!