When you begin your holiday shopping ahead of time–some of you consider October early, I know, but others actually begin in the spring!–you have the ability to collect items that will make creative and meaningful gifts. I have mentioned Free-Gifting before, where you use the freebies and almost-freebies from The Drugstore Game and other sources to create gifts. Between now and the holidays, you can collect items at your favorite drugstore each week, request freebies, and pull them together into a creative and thoughtful gift. Here are four ideas to get you started (and for those of you not comfortable with an entirely “free” gift, I included suggestions to beef them up a bit):

1) Frequent Flier: Stuff a stocking or fill a basket with trial-sized toiletries, small snacks, a magazine and a neck pillow (Yes, they sell these at CVS. I bought one for my sister last year).
Want to spend more? Add a luggage tag or gift certificate to a restaurant in the destination city.

2) Snack Attack: Perfect for a sports fan on game day! CVS has plastic bowls in their dollar aisle; fill it with chips, nuts, candy, and soda.
Want to spend more? Add a Blockbuster Gift Card for a movie-themed gift or a Team hat or shirt for your sports fan.

3) Just for Her: Expand on my original Free-Gifting goodie bag. Include lip gloss, bath products, soap, nail polish and file, scented lotion, etc.
Want to spend more? Add a gift certificate for a haircut or massage, anything pampering!

4) Get Well Soon: As a mom who never gets a “sick day,” I would love to receive a basket of goodies just for myself–tissues, Tylenol, cough drops, a bottle of water, a magazine, and some chocolate (of course!)–to save myself the time and trouble of taking the kids out on a day I’m not well.
Want to spend more? Add a gift card for local takeout or dinner so Mom doesn’t have to cook!

Of course, each of these individual freebie items makes fabulous stocking stuffers for everyone in the family. Last year, my family all got free Duracell batteries from CVS, and they loved them! Either way, you’ve found a creative way to save money on your holiday gifts while playing The Drugstore Game (if you’re not familiar with CVS and other drugstore shopping, check out CFO’s primer). Free-gifting also allows you to gift people you may not otherwise, such as teachers, neighbors and servicepeople. Without stretching your budget, you can show your appreciation and thanks in a thoughtful way.

Read more in my Holiday Shopping Series.

Last fall I discovered Slickdeals and became completely obsessed with finding deals. I spent WAY WAY too much time chasing down online and in-store deals, but I learned a lot. And the results were fantastic: I got free photo holiday cards and thank you cards, bought holiday gifts for 26 family & friends, was able to gift preschool teachers and toddler playgroup members, gave over $100 worth of toys to Toys for Tots, and took care of 6 Nov/Dec birthday gifts, PLUS I bought decorations, wrapping paper, and tape for the next year.

All that–and I only spent a little over $300! Between gift cards, bringing money in on Ebay, and super-shopping (mostly CVS and Target), I spent a lot less than the value of what I gave. In addition, I got my shopping done well before December, so I had that month to relax, enjoy my family, bake and do anything else that came up.

Does this sound appealing to you? I hope so! Once you’ve completed this exercise, you will have a trimmed-down shopping list ready to take into the fall months.

1. Brainstorm a List. If you really want to save money, tackle this project the same way you do grocery shopping–make a list. Brainstorm everyone you need to shop for, and go ahead and throw any October-December birthdays in there too.
2. Categorize the List. I create one category for those who absolutely must get gifts, like my kids and my mom. Then I make a category for the next level down, including friends and more distant relatives. The third category is for teachers and servicepeople. The final category is for charities you wish to support, such as Toys for Tots.
3. Be Brutal. This is the part where it can get touchy. Take a look at that second category–friends and relatives–and ask yourself: Do I need to buy gifts for all these people? Probably not. Sometimes, you get into a pattern with friends and family that continues until it actually causes stress (not to mention unnecessary expense).

On one side of our family, now that we all have kids, we decided to rotate a family every year. Instead of buying gifts for 6 adults and 7 kids, we’re assigned one family and we give them a “family gift.” It’s easier, less stressful, and costs less. With one set of close friends, I asked them earlier this year how they felt about stopping holiday gifts (for the sake of the budget, but also because my kids don’t need more). We agreed to do birthday gifts but not the holidays, and that took a load off my mind.

September is the perfect time to approach friends and relatives with the suggestion to alter your gift-giving patterns. Chances are, some or all of them will be relieved to cut back on the gift obligations.

What questions or concerns do you have? I’m working on my list now…

**Update: Read more in the Holiday Shopping Series.