Here's the Can't-Miss Reason Why I'm Making My Holiday Shopping List in October

The average consumer expects to spend $875 on the holidays this year, reports the National Retail Federation. And if I'm being honest, my total holiday spending will probably exceed that number.

Although we do our best to not go overboard on holiday spending in my household, I try to be generous with the people who are important to us, like family and friends. Also, I believe in being generous with my kids' teachers because they work so incredibly hard.

Now, a lot of the holiday gifts I plan to buy are gift cards. But the items on my kids' wish lists are actual things. And I'm certainly not going to hand my six-year-old niece a Target gift card and call it a day.

In previous years, I would wait until events like Black Friday to get the bulk of my holiday shopping done. But this year, I'm getting started in October. Here's why.

I don't want to miss out on great deals

Consumers may be wired to think that the best holiday deals are going to arrive during heavily promoted events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But one thing I've noticed in recent years is that many retailers offer better deals in the weeks leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

That's why I'm focusing on making a holiday list now. I don't like shopping without a list because then I'm not focused and am more likely to spend money on the wrong things. But if I make my list now, I'll be in a better position to capitalize on the deals that arrive in early and mid-November.

I don't want the items on my list to sell out

My kids tend to have some pretty specific requests for the holidays. And often, they're reasonable, so when they make a list, I try to stick to it.

In recent years, though, I've run into problems with waiting too long and having the things my kids want sell out. Granted, this was a much bigger problem in 2021, when supply chain snags were a major issue, than in 2022.

But there were certain items I didn't end up finding last year, and I don't want a repeat this year. I figure that if I can get myself organized a little sooner, I can potentially avoid that issue. And that'll also be one less thing to stress about.

It pays to get started now if you can afford to

Some people can't afford to start their holiday shopping in October because they still need to work on their savings account balance. But because I've been putting money away for the holidays since January, I know that if I charge up a storm on my credit card in the next few weeks, I'll have the ability to pay it off.

If you're in a similar boat and can afford to start your holiday shopping now, then it pays to do so. You might benefit from numerous deals, not to mention get the peace of mind that comes with knowing you've checked the most important items off of your list.